Round stingrays inhabit tropical to warm-temperate waters. This species favors soft-bottomed habitats such as mud or sand. They use eelgrass for camouflage. They are abundant from spring to fall. In the winter they move to deeper waters. Round stingrays are found in the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean. It feeds on benthic invertebrates. Round stingrays are responsible for many injuries. The wound is caused by its venomous spike. The round stingray has nearly round pectoral fin disc usually colored brown or grayish. Some round stingrays are plain or black. Their underside is white or yellowish. Their tail is short and stout, with a long thick spine. They have small teeth. Juveniles feed on worms and crabs. Most of them give birth in the winter. After they give birth in winter they go back to the deeper waters. The young remain in the shallows. Round stingrays grow 3 cm per year. The population is unknown.

Author: Ana E

Published: 04/2009

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_stingray http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=2580

Photo Credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/ Urobatis_halleri.jpg/300px-Urobatis_halleri.jpg