Home · Dasyatidae · Diamond stingray
Diamond stingray (Hypanus dipterurus) — Dasyatidae

Diamond stingray

Hypanus dipterurus
Family: Dasyatidae

The Diamond stingray (Hypanus dipterurus) is a saltwater fish of the family Dasyatidae that grows up to 167 cm.

Length
167 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–355.0 m
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Venomous / poisonous

Description

The diamond stingray is a stingray (Dasyatidae) from coastal waters of the eastern Pacific, off North, Central and South America. The species grows to about 1 metre wide and has a diamond-shaped, grey-brown body disc and a long, whip-like tail with one or more serrated venomous spines. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried on sand and mud bottoms and crushes molluscs, crustaceans and worms. It is not aggressive, but stepping on the tail gives a severely painful, venomous wound.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Diamond stingray?

The Diamond stingray has an irregular in shape body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Diamond stingray live?

The Diamond stingray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Diamond stingray get?

The Diamond stingray grows to a maximum of about 167 cm.

Is the Diamond stingray dangerous to humans?

The Diamond stingray is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Diamant-pijlstaartrog sourced
English name
Diamond stingray sourced
Scientific name
Hypanus dipterurus
Family
Dasyatidae
Other names
Diamond stingray; Hawaiian stingray; Rat-tailed stingray verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
167.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
355.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Venomous / poisonous verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hypanus

More from the family Dasyatidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →