Fauna
Fish · GBIF taxon 9245001

Atlantic Stingray

Hypanus sabinus

Also known as Freshwater Stingray, Stingaree

Atlantic stingrays are small, adaptable batoids renowned for their ability to thrive across a wide salinity gradient, from full-strength seawater to landlocked freshwater river systems. They spend daylight hours partially buried under soft mud or sand, using specialized electroreceptive ampullae of Lorenzini to detect buried invertebrates. When winter temperatures drop, coastal populations typically migrate into deeper, warmer shelf waters or estuarine channels.

MarineVenomousBottom Dweller
Atlantic Stingray reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Lexi Amico, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Polychaete Worms
  • Amphipods
  • Small Crabs
Predators
  • Bull Shark
  • Tiger Shark
  • Alligator
ThreatsBycatch in commercial gillnets and trawls, shoreline development, and habitat degradation
HabitatsShallow coastal bays, estuaries, tidal lagoons, and freshwater river systems
Life span10–18 years
Classification
  1. OrderMyliobatiformes
  2. FamilyDasyatidae
  3. GenusHypanus
  4. SpeciesHypanus sabinus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskVery high
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is very high
Carries a venomous serrated tail barb; shuffle feet when wading in shallow sandy waters.
Why it is dangerous
The tail spine delivers a proteinaceous venom that causes excruciating localized pain, tissue necrosis, and secondary bacterial infections.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for a small, brownish spade-shaped disc with a distinctly elongated, triangular snout resting on the substrate.
What to do
Shuffle your feet when walking in shallow water, and immerse any accidental sting wounds in hot water before seeking medical care.
Responsible observation
  • Stingray Shuffle: Shuffle your feet along the sand when wading to nudge resting rays away safely.
  • Handling Precautions: Never grab an untethered ray or step directly onto sandy depressions in shallow surf.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…