Common Names: Yellow
stingray, Yellow spotted stingray, Lemon ray.
Latin Name:
Urobatis jamaicensis
Family: Urobatidae
Identification: Disc circular or
slightly oval, no dorsal fin, tail shorter than disc length. Dorsum pale with
dark and light spots and blotches. Overall appearance may be very pale or boldly
patterned depending on the rays habitat.
Size: Maximum length 60cm, Disc width
37.5cm.
Habitat: Sandy areas often around
coral reefs, bays, and lagoons. Intertidal to 25m.
Abundance: Common in Florida and
Northern Caribbean.
Distribution: North Carolina to
Trinidad.
Behavior: Lies motionless often
covered by sand. When searching for food (crustaceans) creates a depression in
the sand by flapping its anterior disc margin.
Reproduction: Ovoviviparous.
Observations:
Photographs: Grand Cayman,
Bocas del Toro (Panama), Florida
Similar species:
Reaction to divers: Allow a close
approach.
Diving logistics: This such a commonly
seen species that it can be found on almost any shallow dive within its range.
Shore diving from the Florida coast would be a good place to look. On Grand
Cayman I found many in the lagoons inside the reefs on the North and South
shores in very shallow water. Inside the reef at Spotts Beach is a good area to
snorkel. On the Atlantic coast of Florida I saw Yellow stingrays on every shallow dive that I did
during the summer.
Other locations reported by readers:
Further reading:
