Dasyatis pastinaca (Common Stingray)
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Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Dasyatidae
Not as common as its name suggests this wonderful fish has a very slow rate of population growth and is highly susceptible to over fishing.
Dasyatis pastinaca can grow up to 2.5m in length and gives birth to between four and seven live young after a gestation period of about four months. It has a sting in its tail that can be up to 35cm long and can cause very painful injuries and temporary paralysis.
Dasyatis pastinaca feeds on bottom dwelling fish, crustaceans and molluscs and can have a devastating impact on local shell fish numbers.
They are quite happy in both fully marine and estuarine habitats, dwelling in waters of depths between 5m and 200m.
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