Species learning profile
Southern stingray
Hypanus americanus
Southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) is a saltwater fish associated with coastal flats habitat in Atlantic. It buries beneath sand with only eyes and spiracles visible.
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At a glance
- Eau
- Eau salée
- Habitat
- coastal flats
- Longueur maximale
- 200 cm
- Répartition
- Atlantique
- Famille
- Dasyatidae
- Ordre
- Myliobatiformes
Observe
How to identify Southern stingray
- It buries beneath sand with only eyes and spiracles visible.
- Guide context: coastal flats habitat in Atlantic.
- Reported maximum length: 200 cm — capable of growing longer than many people are tall. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with coastal flats habitat across Atlantic. Tides repeatedly cover and uncover sand, mud, or seagrass, creating short feeding windows.
Behavior
Excavates prey from sand and seagrass
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Worms, crustaceans, and small fish.
Ecological role
Bioturbates sediment while feeding.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Southern stingray peut atteindre environ 200 cm et vit souvent près de coastal flats.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Coastal development, vessel pressure, degraded water quality, and seagrass loss can shrink feeding and nursery areas.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Southern stingray in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections