Daisy stingray

Dasyatis margarita is a Stechrochenart and lives off the coasts of West Africa.

Features

Dasyatis margarita has a round and comparatively thin pectoral fin disk, which is about as wide as long, reaching widths of up to one meter can, but usually does not exceed 60 cm, females are usually much larger than males. The tip of the snout protrudes only slightly above the circular disk addition. The eyes are medium in size and are followed by slightly larger spray holes. The tail is longer than the disc and carries up usually a single sting. At its base, the tail is broad and flat, behind the sting he is thin and whip-like. The coloring of the disc top is gray-brown, the underside of whitish. It reaches a maximum weight of 17 kg.

Way of life

The Ray lives in the eastern Atlantic between Senegal and the Republic of Congo preferred over sandy soil in near-coastal shallow water, rarely at depths up to 60 m. In part, it is also found in lagoons and estuaries. Its favorite prey are shrimp, crabs, clams and annelids. He is ovoviviparous with litters of one to four cubs, which are preferably born in sheltered flat waters.

From traditional and small amounts of commercial fishermen, he is introduced to the longline, beam trawls, gillnets, traps, purse seines and the simple fishing line and fresh, smoked, dried or salted used for human consumption. Because of the continuous exploitation and to some extent of human influence on its habitat, the stocks have declined and it is classified by the IUCN with EN ( endangered ).