Madeira Canary Islands Azores – Fishes Dr. Peter Wirtz

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Sting rays (Dasyatidae)
Common sting ray (Dasyatis pastinaca)
Up to 1.4 m wing span. Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores. 3 – 200 m depth.
Sting rays have one to two poisonous spines on their tail (insert). It consists of a substance similar to dental
enamel, carries barbs and in the living animal it is surrounded by a poison gland. Sting rays use these weapons
only for defence. Like a scorpion, they strike out with their tail against the (supposed) attacker. The Common
sting ray has a rather pointed snout and a smooth, round tail. The back of pregnant females bulges upwards.
After a gestation period of only 4 months, 3 to 7 young are born. The Common sting ray feeds on small
bottom-living fish, snails, and crabs. Photos Peter Wirtz.
Roughtail sting ray (Dasyatis centroura)
Up to 2.2 m wing span. Madeira, Canary Islands. 10 – 200 m depth.
If you see a sting ray with more than 1.5 m wing span it must be this species. It carries large, horny tubercles
on its tail, which gave the species its name. From head to tail, Roughtail sting ray may measure 5 m length !
Two to four live young are born in autumn or winter. Photo Robert Minderlein.
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Round sting ray (Taeniura grabata)
Up to 1.2 m wing span. Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores. 10 – 100 m depth.