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Panamic stingray (Urotrygon aspidura) — Urotrygonidae

Panamic stingray

Urotrygon aspidura
Family: Urotrygonidae
NT · Near Threatened

The Panamic stingray (Urotrygon aspidura) is a saltwater fish of the family Urotrygonidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Venomous / poisonous
Range
Eastern Pacific; soft bottoms of coastal waters.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The spiny-tailed round ray is a round ray (Urotrygonidae) from the eastern Pacific. The species has an almost round, flat body disc and a tail with a venomous spine. It lives bottom-bound on soft bottoms of coastal waters, where it half-buries itself in the sand. As a bottom hunter it feeds on small crustaceans, worms and other bottom invertebrates. It gives birth to live young. The venomous spine on the tail can inflict deep, very painful wounds if stepped on.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Panamic stingray?

The Panamic stingray has an irregular in shape body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Round body disc; ovoviviparous round ray with a venomous spine on the tail.

Where does the Panamic stingray live?

The Panamic stingray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Pacific; soft bottoms of coastal waters.

How big does the Panamic stingray get?

The Panamic stingray grows to a maximum of about 50 cm. On average the species is around 35 cm.

Is the Panamic stingray dangerous to humans?

The Panamic stingray is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed. The tail bears a serrated venomous spine that can inflict deep, very painful puncture wounds. Shuffle through shallow water to avoid stepping on them. Immerse the wound in hot water (about 45 C) and seek medical care.

Is the Panamic stingray edible?

The Panamic stingray is rarely eaten.

More photos

Panamic stingray (Urotrygon aspidura) — Urotrygonidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Felipe Campos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Panamic stingray (Urotrygon aspidura) — Urotrygonidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Hemellys Miranda, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Panamic stingray (Urotrygon aspidura) — Urotrygonidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Alberto Alcalá (CC BY 4.0)
Panamic stingray (Urotrygon aspidura) — Urotrygonidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) hectorjmz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Panamic stingray verified
Scientific name
Urotrygon aspidura
Family
Urotrygonidae
Other names
Roughtail round stingray; Spiny-tail round ray verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Average length (cm)
35.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Natural range
Eastern Pacific; soft bottoms of coastal waters. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans, worms and other benthic invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Round body disc; ovoviviparous round ray with a venomous spine on the tail. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Venomous / poisonous sourced
First aid
The tail bears a serrated venomous spine that can inflict deep, very painful puncture wounds. Shuffle through shallow water to avoid stepping on them. Immerse the wound in hot water (about 45 C) and seek medical care. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Urotrygon

More from the family Urotrygonidae

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