| Family: |
Dasyatidae (Stingrays), subfamily: Urogymninae |
| Max. size: |
100 cm WD (male/unsexed); max.weight: 20 kg |
| Environment: |
demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 60 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Central Atlantic: Senegal to Congo (Ref. 114953). |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 130-130. Diagnosis: A large Dasyatis species most closely related to the much smaller Dasyatis margaritella and to the extremely flat D. garouaensis (Ref. 26277). Pearl spines always present and very large; denticles on dorsal surface of disc smooth, restricted to middle portion (Ref. 26277).
Description: Disc oval, moderately flat, its medial lobe broad-based and moderately exserted, its anterolateral margin somewhat concave; disc depth 13.0-14.5% of disc width, disc width 0.9-1.1 times disc length (Ref. 26277). Snout moderately long, protruding but not pointed (Ref. 26277, 81259). Eyes rather small, spiracles slightly larger than eyes, nasal curtain posteriorly fringed and a deep groove extends from nasal flap to and around mouth corners (Ref. 81625). Jaws strongly undulate, with 24-32/28-36 tooth rows arranged in a pavement pattern, and five finger-like mouth papillae (Ref. 7397, 81259, 81625). Pelvic fins projecting slightly from posterior disc margin (Ref. 81625). Total number of pectoral radials 129-136 (Ref. 7367, 81625). Middle third of disc covered with small, circular, flat denticles and tail covered with small prickles; no enlarged thorns on disc or tail (Ref. 26277, 81259). Tail long, whip-like behind the sting, broad-based and oval in cross-section, with a dorsal ridge behind the sting and a moderately high ventral fold; tail whip covered with fine dermal denticles (Ref. 81259, 81625).
Colouration: Dorsal side uniformly brownish to greyish-brown, without spots or prominent markings; ventral side pale or whitish with more or less dark pectoral margins (Ref. 26277, 81259, 81625). |
| Biology: |
Dasyatis margarita is a coastal marine species, entering lagoons, shallow bays and estuaries (Ref. 3497, 81259). Feeds on shrimps, crabs, bivalves and annelids (Ref. 28587). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 04 August 2020 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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