Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Dasyatidae
- Genus
- Urobatis
- Species
- halleri
Habitat
Round stingrays inhabit shallow coastal waters, bays, and estuaries along the eastern Pacific Ocean, from southern California to Panama. They prefer sandy or muddy substrates where they can bury themselves, and are commonly found in water depths of less than 30 feet. These areas provide ample cover and prey opportunities.
Diet
Round stingrays primarily feed on small benthic invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp, worms, and small fish. They use their pectoral fins to stir up the sand and uncover prey, typically foraging at night on the ocean floor. This feeding behavior helps them exploit hidden food sources in their habitat.
Behavior
Round stingrays are primarily nocturnal, spending the day buried in the sand to avoid predators and emerging at night to hunt. They are generally solitary but can form loose aggregations in favorable habitats, and they exhibit defensive behavior by whipping their tails when threatened. Territorial behavior is minimal, though they may defend feeding areas.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.