THE LOWER FISHES 



171 



ROUND STING RAY: Urolofhus jamaicensis 

 (^Also known as Urohatis^— Figure 76 



Size: Usually 16 inches to 2 feet long. 



Distribution: Florida to the Caribbean. Sometimes to Cape Hatteras. 



Identification: The disc is round and light-colored with dark mottlings which 

 blend in with the sandv bottom. The pattern may vary with the nature of the 

 bottom, but this has not been demonstrated. The tail is short and has a caudal 

 fin and highly developed spine. 



Habits: This is a species of shallow shoal and reef waters. It is not timid. 

 One swam directly under the arm of one of the authors and settled quietly on 

 the sand not two feet in front of him. It is more common than supposed, as 

 swimmers will surelv discover, being found often about reefs in the Bahamas 

 particularlv. It scoops out holes in the sand to expose its invertebrate food. In 

 spite of its small size, the sting is dangerous, said to be more dangerous than 

 other sting rays of much larger size. 



Similar Species: Members of this genus are common in most tropical waters. 

 The Californian round sting ray, Urolophtis helleri, is very similar to the eastern 

 form and is found from Point Conception to Panama. 



STiNGAREE: Dasjatis sabina 



Size: To only 15 inches across, the smallest Atlantic member of its genus. 



Distribution: Gulf of Mexico to Florida and the Caribbean. To Cape Hatteras 

 and, rarely, to the Chesapeake Bay. 



Identification: The snout is pointed and rather long, and the pectorals are 

 very rounded. It is yellow-brown to dark brown with a dark line down the 

 midline. The midline of the back possesses prickles. 



Habits: This ray is more or less strictly tropical and is found in very shallow 

 water. When walking through shallow water, it is well to use a shuffling motion 

 of the feet. This tends to drive the rays ahead if they are present. The sting is 

 probably not as painful as that of the round sting ray. 



Similar Species: The southern sting ray, Dasyatis americana (_fig. 76'), is the 

 most common large species from Cape Hatteras to the Caribbean. It replaces 



Fig. 77. Stingaree. 



