Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Dasyatidae
- Genus
- Dasyatis
- Species
- hastata
Habitat
Whip stingrays inhabit shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and sandy or muddy substrates in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, including areas like Gambia and Banjul. They prefer depths of up to 50 meters where they can bury themselves in the sediment.
Diet
Whip stingrays primarily feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp, and mollusks, as well as small fish. They use their pectoral fins to stir up the substrate and uncover prey, often hunting at night in these environments.
Behavior
Whip stingrays are mostly solitary and spend much of the day buried in sand to avoid detection, becoming active at night to forage. They exhibit territorial behavior around feeding areas and can deliver a painful sting if threatened. Their movement is graceful, gliding over the sea floor with undulating motions.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.