Bathytoshia centroura
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes)
Myliobatiformes (Stingrays)
Dasyatidae (Whiptail Stingrays)
Bathytoshia
Bathytoshia centroura
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: other. Diagnosis: Large specimens of Dasyatis centroura are recognizable by their thorny tails, by the large size and wide spacing spacing of their mid-dorsal bucklers, and by the conspicuous tubercles or bucklers on the outer parts of their discs; in smaller specimens the large tubercles have not yet developed on the tail (Ref. 6902). It differs from Dasyatis sabina, D. guttata and Himantura schmardae in the shape of disc; it resembles Dasyatis say and D. americana in shape of disc, but it can be distinguished from D. say by the fact that the tail lacks any trace of a cutaneous fold above, and from D. americana by its much narrower ventral tailfold (Ref. 6902).
Description: A very large stingray; disc rhombic, the anterior margins forming a blunt angle (Ref. 6902, 39859, 81259). Dorsal surface entirely, but irregularly rough, with a mid-dorsal row of large thorny tubercles provided with striate bases and erect cusps; a few similar tubercles scattered over pectoral fins and head (Ref. 81259). Tail whip-like and strongly spinous, with numerous rows of small spines; tail with a short dorsal ridge behind the sting and a poorly developed ventral fold, which is long long, but quite low and not easily seen (Ref. 7251).
Colouration: Dorsal side dark brown to olivaceous-brown; the lower surface whitish, with or without dark pectoral margins; tail blackish behind the sting (Ref. 6902, 81259).
Distribution
Western Atlantic: antitropical; from western and southern USA, including the Gulf of Mexico, and Brazil to Argentina (Ref. 114953). Eastern Atlantic populations refer to Bathytoshia lata (Ref. 109651, 114953).
Habitat Associations
Brackish, marine. demersal. depth range 3-270 m. Found in: estuaries.
Biology
Dasyatis centroura is a coastal species (Ref. 81259), found over sandy and muddy bottoms (Ref. 3169). It feeds on bottom-living invertebrates and fishes (Ref. 3169). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 6901). Wings marketed fresh, smoked, dried-salted; used for fishmeal and oil. Harmful to shellfish banks; dangerous to bathers and fishers due to its poisonous spine. May attain well over 100 cm TL. Warm season visitor to coastal waters (Ref. 6902).
Max length: 300.0 cm TL; common length: 125.0 cm WD; max weight: 300000 g.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); bearers (internal live bearers). Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). Gestation about 4 months with 2 to 4 young produced in autumn and early winter (Ref. 6901). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU), assessed 2019-06-21. Resilience: Very low (Fec=2-6).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
McEachran, J.D. and C. Capapé (1984) Dasyatidae. p. 197-202. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1.
Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder (1953) Sawfishes, guitarfishes, skates and rays. p. 1-514. In J. Tee-Van et al. (eds.) Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Part two. New Haven, Sears Found. Mar. Res., Yale Univ.
Murdy, E.O., R.S. Birdsong and J.A. Musick (1997) Fishes of Chesapeake Bay. Smithsonian Institution Press Washington and London. 324 p.
Bowman, R.E., C.E. Stillwell, W.L. Michaels and M.D. Grosslein (2000) Food of northwest Atlantic fishes and two common species of squid. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NE 155, 138 p.
Bernardes, R.Á., J.L. de Figueiredo, A.R. Rodrigues, L.G. Fischer, C.M. Vooren, M. Haimovici and C.L.D.B. Rossi-Wongtschowski (2005) Peixes de zona econômica exclusiva da região sudeste-sul do Brasil: Levantamento com armadilhas, pargueiras e rede de arrasto de fundo. São Paulo: Editora da Universidade de São Paulo. 295 p.
Séret, B. (2003) Dasyatidae. p. 81-96. In D. Paugy, C. Lévêque and G.G Teugels (eds.) The fresh and brackish water fishes of West Africa Volume 1. Collection Faune et Flore Tropicales 40. Institut de recherche de développement, Paris, France, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris, France and Musée royal de l'Afrique Central, Tervuren, Belgium, 457p.
Last, P.R., W.T. White, M.R. de Carvalho, B. Séret, M.F.W. Stehmann and G.J.P. Naylor (2016) Rays of the world. CSIRO Publishing, Comstock Publishing Associates. i-ix + 1-790.
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