Yellow stingray

Jamaica Stingray ( Urobatis jamaicensis )

The Jamaica Stingray ( Urobatis jamaicensis ), also called yellow stingray, is a small ray, which occurs from the coast of North Carolina through the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico to the northern coast of South America in the warmer western Atlantic.

Features

The Jamaica Stingray is a maximum of 76 inches long. The body top is yellowish or gray-brown, usually with a dark punctuation, or reticular drawing. The belly is brown white, yellowish or greenish. He is greatly changing its color in the situation. His body is nearly round disc. The dark dotted tail wearing a well-developed caudal fin and, on the top, a long sting that can cause painful wounds. A dorsal fin is absent, as thorns on the body edges.

Way of life

The Jamaica Stingray lives near the coast in shallow water usually from the water surface down to 25 meters. The fish are common and little shy. Preferred habitats are sandy regions or covered with shell break ground, sometimes the near coral reefs or algae or seaweed -covered zones. Jamaica stingrays are ovoviviparous and give birth to a litter of three to four young rays, which are at birth 15 cm long. In copulation, the male swims in the supine position with the female. Jamaica stingrays feed on shrimp, possibly on small fish, clams and worms. To attract prey seek hiding places that make Jamaica stingrays with their body disc a tunnel.