Species Sharks & RaysSouthern Stingray

Southern Stingray

Hypanus americanus

CommonShark & Ray
Illustration of Southern Stingray (Hypanus americanus)
Safety note: The tail carries a venomous barb used only in defense. Shuffle your feet in shallow water so rays can move away.

A flat, diamond-shaped ray that glides along sandy bottoms and often buries itself with only its eyes showing. It feeds by flapping its wings to uncover buried prey and trails a long, barbed tail.

Habitat
Warm shallow coastal waters, seagrass beds, and sandy flats.
Diet
Clams, worms, shrimp, and small fish dug from the sand.
How common
Common

Recent Southern Stingray sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Southern Stingray? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes - building your personal nature collection as you go.

Get Huck - free

Get an alert when a Southern Stingray is spotted

Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

Love sharks & rays? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - free, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

More sharks & rays

Spiny Dogfish
Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Spotted Eagle Ray
Spotted Eagle Ray
Aetobatus narinari
Tiger Shark
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Whale Shark
Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Basking Shark
Basking Shark
Cetorhinus maximus
Blacktip Shark
Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Blue Shark
Blue Shark
Prionace glauca
Bull Shark
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas