SeaLifeWiki

Ray

Southern stingray

Hypanus americanus

Coastal sand flats, seagrass edges and soft bottom near western Atlantic and Caribbean reefs

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Species photograph unavailable
Habitat
Coastal sand flats, seagrass edges and soft bottom near western Atlantic and Caribbean reefs
Published depth range
Surface to 100 m
Viewing activities
Snorkeling · Scuba diving

Appearance

Broad, angular, diamond-shaped disc with a plain brown, gray or olive upper surface and a pale underside. A long whip-like tail carries a defensive spine. It lacks the white-spotted back and projecting head of a spotted eagle ray.

Ecology

A western Atlantic bottom-feeding ray using sand flats, seagrass edges and soft seabed near reefs. It eats buried animals such as crustaceans, mollusks and worms. The verified IUCN account includes Turks and Caicos within its range; local habitat and observation still determine whether it is encountered at a particular site.

Behavior

Swims by undulating its broad disc and may settle partly buried with eyes and water-intake openings exposed. Feeding can stir the sediment as it uncovers prey. Rays may also visit cleaner fishes. Leave a resting or feeding animal space to move and avoid touching or provisioning it.

Conservation

Globally Near Threatened in the IUCN assessment made in 2019 and published in 2020. It is caught in targeted fisheries and as bycatch, with regional differences in pressure and abundance. Tourist interactions can also change ray behavior. The global category does not establish that every local population is declining.

When to look

The available records do not establish a reliable local viewing season. Use the map’s month filter to inspect dated observations; it does not predict an encounter.

RECORDED PRESENCE

Where has Southern stingray been recorded?

These destination links use the same area and date cutoff as the map: 40 km circles, except for the four named regional rectangles. Checked 2026-11-02. Counts describe source records, not individual animals or sighting odds.

ArubaAruba40 km radius · 7 source records since 2016About this destination →Belize Barrier ReefBelize40 km radius · 16 source records since 2016About this destination →BiminiThe Bahamas40 km radius · 45 source records since 2016About this destination →BonaireCaribbean Netherlands40 km radius · 100 source records since 2016About this destination →CozumelMexico40 km radius · 242 source records since 2016About this destination →CuraçaoCuraçao40 km radius · 6 source records since 2016About this destination →Florida KeysFlorida, United StatesRegional rectangle · 485 source records since 2016About this destination →Grand CaymanCayman Islands40 km radius · 238 source records since 2016About this destination →GrenadaGrenada40 km radius · 3 source records since 2016About this destination →Little CaymanCayman Islands40 km radius · 28 source records since 2016About this destination →NassauThe Bahamas40 km radius · 25 source records since 2016About this destination →RoatánHonduras40 km radius · 30 source records since 2016About this destination →SabaCaribbean Netherlands40 km radius · 21 source records since 2016About this destination →Saint LuciaSaint Lucia40 km radius · 2 source records since 2016About this destination →Turks & CaicosTurks and Caicos Islands40 km radius · 27 source records since 2016About this destination →U.S. Virgin IslandsUnited States40 km radius · 160 source records since 2016About this destination →

Sources, search boundaries and limitations