Groovebelly stingray
Dasyatis hypostigma
- Endangered
- Card rarity: Epic
- Sharks and rays
The groovebelly stingray, referred to as the butter stingray by fishery workers, is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It is found over sandy or muddy bottoms in shallow coastal waters off southern Brazil, and probably Uruguay and Argentina. The groovebelly stingray can be distinguished by a prominent W-shaped furrow on its underside behind the last pair of gill slits, as well as completely smooth skin in all but the largest individuals. It reaches a maximum known width of 65 cm (26 in). This species is aplacental viviparous, with one observed female gestating two young. The main threat to its population is likely bycatch mortality from shrimp trawlers, although habitat degradation is also a concern.
Classification
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Dasyatidae
- Genus
- Dasyatis