Roughtail stingray

Dasyatis centroura

Species Information
Exhibit Name and Location Wings in the Water – Main Aquarium, Level 1
Description of Animal Perhaps the most eye-catching feature of this stingray is its long, whip-like tail, which may be 2½ times as long as the body. The many thorny plates, or tubercles, on the outer parts of the body, or disc, and along the base of the tail give this species its common name, roughtail. Like other stingrays, the roughtail has one or two sharp, serrated spines, which are equipped with venom glands and covered with an integumentary sheath—a thin layer of skin. Normally gentle, when attacked by would-be predators or stepped upon by unwary humans, the animal lashes its tail. The spine and its barbs pierce the integumentary sheath as they lacerate the skin of the victim, allowing venom to enter the wound.
Aquarist's Note Our specimens, although not full-sized at a mere 150 pounds (68 kg), are still an impressive sight as they swim around the volunteer divers at feeding time! These rays often blow water on the divers from their mouths or even nudge the divers to let them know they’re ready for their next meal. Like other rays in the exhibit, the roughtails have unique personalities—a fact that helps us provide each animal with individualized care. While our stingrays are normally gentle, we remove their stinging spines to prevent accidental injuries to our divers!
Diet The roughtail ray searches over sandy and muddy substrates, often burrowing into the sediment, to feed on bottom-dwelling, or benthic, invertebrates and fishes.
Size This is the largest stingray in our exhibit. In the wild, this species has been reported to reach over 7 feet (2.2 m) across and weigh almost 450 pounds (200 kg).
Range The roughtail ray is found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean: in the eastern Atlantic from southern France to Angola, including the Mediterranean Sea, and in the western Atlantic from Maine to the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and southward to Uruguay.
Population Status
Predators Roughtail rays have few predators and are of only minor importance to commercial fisheries. The ray is marketed fresh, smoked, and dried, and is used for fishmeal and oil.