Urobatis jamaicensis
Yellow Stingray
Collection Details
Specimens
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes)
Myliobatiformes (Stingrays)
Urotrygonidae (American Round Stingrays)
Urobatis
Urobatis jamaicensis (Yellow Stingray)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (Carpenter, K.E. (ed.) 2002. The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO, Rome.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page.
Learn more about our species accounts.
Characters
Medium to large-sized stingrays (maximum disc width over 2 m). Body strongly de-
pressed, with head, trunk, and broadly exp anded pectoral fins forming rhomboid disc. Disc at least 1.5
times broad as long. Tail very slender and short (shorter than disc), distinctly demarcated from disc. Pec-
toral fins continuous along sides of head, not forming subrostral lobes or cephalic fins. Eyes and spira-
cles on top of head. Some species have spiracular tentacles. Snout obtuse and angular. Nasal curtains are
broadly exp anded and continuous across narrow isthmus in front of mouth and are smooth-edged (with r are
exceptions). Mouth is slightly arched and lacks papillae on floor. Jaws bear many sm all teeth in b ands. Cau-
dal fin always absent, dorsal fin absent in all Western Central Atlantic representatives. Pectoral fins extend
distinctly posterior to origin of pelvic fins. Pelvic fins are moderately later ally exp anded and not divided
into anterior and posterior lobes. Some species have 1 or more long, serrated spines. Tail with longitudinal
folds on upper and/or lower surfaces. Skin of upper side naked in most species, but with a variable num-
ber of tubercles in large individuals of o thers. Colour: dorsal surface grey, light green, olive, purple, or dark
brown, sometimes with a reddish cast, often marked with spots or lines; ventral surface white, sometimes with
a bronze or rusty cast.
disc at least
1.5 times
broad as long
smooth
nasal
curtain
nostril
tail slender
and short
mouth
detail of mouth
Body shape: other. Edge of disk no sharp angles, no dorsal fin. Well-developed caudal fin extends around tip of tail, doubly serrate spine near caudal fin base (Ref. 26938). Disk yellowish, with dark vermiculations and spots that form a variety of patterns on upper surface (Ref. 7251). Lower surface is yellowish, greenish or brownish white, tail with dark spots (Ref.6902).
Distribution
Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to northern South America. Also in Bahamas, Yucatan and throughout Caribbean (Ref. 26938).
Habitat Associations
Butterfly rays are cosmopolitan in tropical and warm-temperate waters, usu-
ally inhabiting s andy and muddy bottoms in sh allow coastal waters, including estuaries and river mouths. Be-
cause they have very short tails comp ared to whiptailed stingrays (Dasyatidae), they pose little threat to
people (some species even lack a caudal serrated spine). They are viviparous without placenta and feed pri-
marily on crustaceans and clams. Species are often caught in bottom gill nets. 576 Batoid Fishes
Similar families occurring in the area
Dasyatidae: disc not more than 1.3 times as broad as long; tail much longer than disc; nasal curtains deeply
fringed; fleshy papillae present on floor of mouth. Myliobatidae, Rhinopteridae, Mobulidae: head distinctly demarcated from body; anterior portions of pectorals
forming separate lobes or cephalic fins; eyes and spiracles on sides of head. head distinct
from body
tail longer
than disc
Dasyatidae Mobulidae
caudal fin
well
Urotrygonidae: caudal fin well developed, supported by carti- developed
laginous radials. Other batoid families: lack serrated tail spine and have stout to
moderately slender tails that are equal to or greater than 1/2
disc length. Urotrygonidae
Key to species of Gymnuridae occurring in the area
1a. Tail with 1 or more serrated spines; posterior margin of spiracle with distinct tentacle
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gymnura altavela
1b. Tail without serrated spines; no tentacle on posterior margin of spiracle. . . . . . Gymnura micrura
List of species occurring in the area
(cid:1)
T(cid:1)he symbol is given when species accounts are included. (cid:1) Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758). Gymnura micrura (Bloch and Schneider, 1801).
Biology
Commonly found along sandy beaches to the water's edge, and especially in sandy areas in and around coral reefs (Ref. 7251). Raises front end of disc to attract prey seeking shelter (Ref. 7251). Feeds on shrimps, probably also on small fishes, clams, and worms (Ref. 12951). Known to be capable of inflicting dangerous wounds with its venomous spine. Easily approached (Ref. 9710). A live-bearing species, produces 3 to 4 young (Ref. 26938).
Max length: 76.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); bearers (internal live bearers). Male grasps disc margin of female, swings under her and inserts a clasper. Mating pair is surrounded by other males that swim around and nudge them. Dugger (1987) (Ref. 51118) observed both male and female biting the pectoral fin of its mate (Ref. 49562).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2019-06-21. Resilience: Very low (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Large specimens are marketed
fresh and salted.
References
Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1953. Sawfishes, guitarfishes, skates and rays, and chimaeroids. In Fishes of the western North Atlantic, Part 2, edited by J. Tee-Van, C.M. Breder, A.E. Parr, W.C. Schroeder, and L.P. Schultz. Sears Found. Mar. Res. Mem., 1(2). Castro-Aguirre, J.L. and H. Espinosa Pérez. 1996. Listados faunísticos de México. VII Catalogo sistemático de las rayas y especies afines de México (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii: Rajiformes: Batoideiomorpha). Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1. Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. Austin, University of Texas Press.
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.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Michael, S.W. (1993) Reef sharks and rays of the world. A guide to their identification, behavior, and ecology. Sea Challengers, Monterey, California. 107 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
Compagno, L.J.V. (1999) Checklist of living elasmobranchs. p. 471-498. In W.C. Hamlett (ed.) Sharks, skates, and rays: the biology of elasmobranch fishes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Maryland.
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