1. Family Urolophidae Stingrays and Stingarees

2. Taxonomy Order Myliobatiformes Family Urolophidae Genus Urobatis Urolophus Urotrygon Trygonoptera 25-41 species in 2, 3, or 4 genera

3. Morphology round disc, rostrum, and pectoral fins

4. Morphology short tail with rounded caudal fin, no dorsal fins venomous spine ½ way down tail

5. Morphology 25cm DL (Urotrygon microphthalmum) 66m DL (Urobatis jamaicensis)

6. Morphology coloration varies, even within a species

7. Morphology coloration varies, even within a species

8. Morphology mouth with papillae on floor dentition unlike other rays

9. Habitat and Distribution coastal subtropical and tropical water E. Indian, E. and W. Pacific, W. Atlantic U. halleriU. jamaicensis

10. Habitat and Distribution benthic- bury in sand usually less than 15-20m deep may segregate by sex

11. Reproduction case study: Urobatis jamaicensis ~7 pups/litter litter size increases with maternal size only during spring/summer cycle

12. Reproduction mature at ~15-16cm aplacental viviparous with histotroph nutirition gestation 5-6 months females pregnant throughout the year bi-annual reproducers parturition in June-September and November-January

13. Prey/Feeding Habits feed on benthic invertebrates some species use pectoral fins to get inverts out of substrate

14. Human Importance may sting the feet of beachgoers Urolophus halleri in Seal Beach, CA “stingray shuffle” economic importance- aquariums little importance to fisheries

15. Conservation Status most species -data deficient or least concern on Redlist 3 species vulnerable Urolophus orarius- endangered (Australia) Urolophus javanicus- critically endangered (Java)

16. Research reproductive biology- may sort out taxonomy U. halleri in Seal Beach (Chris Lowe at CSULB) spine regeneration, abundance, distribution, and thermal preferences

17. Research U. jamaicensis sensory biology comparative studies FAU sharklab prey-related olfactory sensitivity visual fields/binocular vision, color vision

18. Research U. jamaicensis locomotion (“punting”) in FAU sharklab

19. Literature Cited Bester, C. 2006. Round Stingray. Florida Museum Natural History, Icthyology Department. University of Florida.. Downloaded on 22 November 2007. Fahy, D.P. and R.E. Spieler. 2007. Preliminary observations on the reproductive cycle and uterine fecundity of the yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes: Urolophidae) in southeast Florida, U.S.A. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Suppl 14: 131-139. Hoisington IV, G. and C.G. Lowe. 2005. Abundance and distribution of the round stingray, Urobatis halleri, near a heated effluent outfall. Marine Environmental Research 60: 437-453. IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.. Downloaded on 22 November 2007. Piercy, A. 2006. Yellow Stingray. Florida Museum Natural History, Icthyology Department. University of Florida.. Downloaded on 22 November 2007.