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Human Factors
Protected by the State of Florida and the US federal government under the Endangered Species Act. Non-aggressive species. Sometimes caught on hook and line by fishers that target sharks, tarpon, snook, and redfish. Should be handled with care and released unharmed.
CLEARNOSE SKATE
Raja eglanteria
Identification
Disc angular, front edges nearly straight or slightly concave; snout pointed. Broad clear areas on both sides of snout (hence the name 'clearnose'). Single mid-dorsal ridge of large spines/denticles. Disc brownish with dark brown bars, streaks, and some spots dorsally and whitish ventrally. Well developed caudal fin. Dorsal fins present and located on tail.
Habitat
Found most commonly in shallow coastal waters but reported as deep as 1,000 feet of water; sometimes enters lower reaches (high saline) of estuaries and bays.
Feeding
Benthic feeder. Feeds mainly on benthic crustaceans, bivalves, marine worms, squids, and fishes.
Reproduction
Breed while inshore. Oviparous; females deposit leathery dark-brown translucent egg cases, as many as 66 in a single reproductive season. Empty egg cases are often found washed up on coastal beaches; commonly called 'mermaids purses'.
Size/Age
Up to 2.5 feet in wing span
Human Factors
Non-aggressive species of no danger to humans.
ATLANTIC STINGRAY
Dasyatis sabina
Identification
Color brownish to yellowish brown dorsally and whitish ventrally. Disc corners rounded. Disc width nearly equal to disc length. Snout pointed and projecting. Spine near base of long whip like tail. Low dorsal and ventral fin folds on tail which are brown/dusky in color.
Habitat
Benthic species. Inhabits coastal waters, including estuaries, lagoons and sometimes rivers.
Feeding
Feeds on benthic invertebrates, polychaete worms, small crustaceans, shrimp, crabs, mollusks, sometimes small fishes.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. One to four pups per litter.
Size/Age
Wingspan of up to 2 feet.
Human Factors
Non-aggressive species of little danger to humans with the exception of their defensive venomous barb located near the base of the tail. Avoid handling or exercise extreme caution. Do the "Stingray shuffle".
BLUNTNOSE STINGRAY
Dasyatis say
Identification
Color brownish dorsally and whitish ventrally. Broad rounded disc. Snout short, relatively blunt (hence the name 'bluntnose'). Spine near base of long whip like tail. Well developed dorsal and ventral fin folds on tail which are dark brown to black in color.
Habitat
Inhabits coastal waters including ocean beaches, bays, estuaries, and river mouths. Generally found near shore on grass and sand/mud flats.
Feeding
Bottom feeder. Feeds on small fish, clams, marine worms, and crustaceans (i.e. shrimp, crabs).
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Two to four pups per litter.
Size/Age
Wingspan up to 3 feet.
Human Factors
Non-aggressive species of little danger to humans with the exception of their defensive venomous barb located near the base of the tail. Avoid handling or exercise extreme caution. Do the "Stingray shuffle".
ROUGHTAIL STINGRAY
Dasyatis centroura
Identification
Color dark brown to olive brown dorsally and whitish ventrally. Disc broad but less angular than the southern stingray. The snout is moderately long and angular with an obtuse tip. Several rows of denticles/thorns on the tail (hence the name 'roughtail'). Large venomous spine(s) near base of long whip like tail (1-4 spines, some 8-10" long in larger fish). Long ventral fin fold on tail but much lower than in southern stingray, dark brown to black in color. Dorsal fin fold on tail absent.
Habitat
Dwells in muddy and sandy substrate. Inhabits coastal waters including ocean beaches, and some bays, and estuaries. It can be found at depths over 600 feet.
Feeding
Benthic feeder. Feeds on bottom-living invertebrates and fishes.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Two to four pups per litter.
Size/Age
Largest whiptail stingray species in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Wingspan of up to 7.25 feet and up to 660 pounds.
Human Factors
Non-aggressive species of little danger to humans with the exception of their defensive venomous barb located near the base of the tail. Avoid handling or exercise extreme caution.
SMOOTH BUTTERFLY RAY
Gymnura micrura
Identification
Disc broad, much wider than long ('butterfly shaped'). Coloration brownish, gray or green with many small dark spots/blotches dorsally and white ventrally. Snout protruding. Tail short with low dorsal and ventral fin folds and three to four dark crossbars. No venomous spine on tail.
Habitat
Prefers coastal waters and usually found on soft mud or sandy substrates. May enter estuaries or bays.
Feeding
Benthic feeder. Feeds on bottom-living invertebrates and fishes.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Three to four pups per litter.
Size/Age
Wingspan up to 4.5 feet.
Human Factors
Non-aggressive species of no danger to humans.
SOUTHERN STINGRAY
Dasyatis americana
Identification
Color brownish dorsally and whitish ventrally. Disc broad angular (rhomboid) with pointed corners. Snout moderate, not protrusive. Spine near base of long whip like tail. Well developed ventral fin fold on tail, dark brown to black in color. Dorsal fin fold on tail absent.
Habitat
Inhabits coastal waters including ocean beaches, bays, estuaries, and river mouths. Generally found near shore on grass and sand/mud flats but does venture into deeper coastal waters up to ~200 feet.
Feeding
Benthic feeder. Feeds mainly on bivalves and marine worms and also takes shrimp, crabs, and small fishes.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Up to seven pups per litter.
Size/Age
Wingspan of 4-5 feet and weigh up to around 200 pounds.
Human Factors
Observed singly, in pairs, and in aggregations. Non-aggressive species of little danger to humans with the exception of their defensive venomous barb located near the base of the tail. Avoid handling or exercise extreme caution. Do the "Stingray shuffle".
YELLOW STINGRAY
Urobatis jamaicensis
Identification
Disc round. Yellowish in color with darker vermiculations or spots dorsally, whitish below. Tail stout with caudal fin well developed (rounded). No dorsal fin. Venomous spine located just anterior to the caudal fin.
COWNOSE RAY
Rhinoptera bonasus
Identification
Disc brown to olive, with no spots or markings. Pectoral fins ("wings") long and pointed. Snout projecting, squarish, with an indentation at center (almost bi-lobed). Two small cephalic fins (rostra) protruding from front of head. Mouth small, sub-terminal. Tail whip-like with spine at base just posterior to a small dorsal fin.
Habitat
A pelagic species found in bays, estuaries, river mouths, and open ocean.
Feeding
Diet consists mainly of bivalve mollusks, crustaceans, and various other benthic invertebrates (i.e. clams, oysters, shrimp, marine worms).
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Normally just one pup per litter.
Size/Age
Wingspan up to 3 feet.
Human Factors
Forms large schools containing 100s or 1,000s of individuals. Migrates seasonally in the Gulf of Mexico and along the U.S. Atlantic coast. Present in some estuaries year-round. Non-aggressive species of little danger to humans with the exception of their defensive venomous barb located near the base of the tail. Avoid handling or exercise extreme caution.
SPOTTED EAGLE RAY
Aetobatus narinari
Identification
This is probably the easiest ray to identify. Broad angular disc, twice as wide as long, strongly concave posterior with angular tips. Dark brown to black with series of lighter spots/circles on the dorsal surface. Disc white ventrally. Large fleshy subrostral lobe. Dorsal fin near base of whip-like tail followed posterior by a venomous spine(s).
Habitat
Commonly found in shallow inshore waters such as bays, estuaries, and coral reefs but may cross oceanic basins to depths of around 200 feet.
Feeding
Feeds mainly on bivalves but also eats shrimp, crabs, octopus, worms, whelks, and small fishes.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Up to four young pups per litter.
Size/Age
Wingspan up to 10 feet and up to 500 pounds. Maximum total length (tip of snout to tip end of tail) of 17 feet.
Human Factors
Protected in Florida state waters. Often seen swimming near the water surface, occasionally leaping completely out of the water. Frequently forming large schools during the non-breeding season. Non-aggressive species of little danger to humans with the exception of their defensive venomous barb located near the base of the tail. Avoid handling or exercise extreme caution.
LESSER ELECTRIC RAY
Narcine bancroftii
Identification
Grayish to reddish brown, with many rounded dark blotches that are outlined with blackish circles on the dorsal disc. Disc white ventrally. Round disc with a thick tail and well developed dorsal fins and caudal fin. No spine on tail. Two electric organs, set on either side of the head, are visible ventrally as kidney shaped honeycombs.
Habitat
Inhabits coastal waters, on sand or mud bottoms. Common along sandy shorelines, seagrass beds, and sometimes near coral reefs. Found from the surf zone up to 200 feet.
Feeding
Benthic feeder. Prefers marine worms, but may take juvenile snake eels, anemones, and small crustaceans.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Three to 15 pups per litter.
Size/Age
Wingspan up to 18 inches.
Human Factors
Non-aggressive species of little danger to humans. Can discharge a shock between 14 and 37 volts, primarily used for defense. Contact with the disc in the pectoral region can produce a mild electric shock, not enough to injure a human.
ATLANTIC GUITARFISH
Rhinobatos lentiginosus
Identification
Guitarfishes have body characteristics similar to both sharks and skates. The body is dorso-ventrally flattened and the pectoral fins are fused to the head, creating a triangle or heart shaped disc. The tail is thick ending in a well developed caudal fin, typical of most skates. Two well developed dorsal fins are present and are located posterior to the pelvic fins. The combination of the disc shape and thick tail give this fish it 'guitar' like shape (hence the name guitarfish). No spine on the tail. Snout is pointed with broad clear areas on both sides.
Habitat
Found most commonly over sand and mud substrates in shallow coastal waters but reported as deep as 100 feet; occasionally occurs in estuarine and even freshwater habitats.
Feeding
Thought to feed on fishes and benthic crustaceans and shellfish.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Up to 6 pups per litter.
Size/Age
Maximum length up to 30 inches.
Human Factors
Non-aggressive species of no danger to humans.
DEVIL RAY
Mobula hypostoma
Identification
Dark black above, white below. Pectoral fins ("wings") long and pointed. Two large cephalic fins (rostra) protruding from front of head. Mouth small, sub-terminal. Tail whip-like, as long as the length of body and with no spine.
Habitat
Pelagic, occurs in shallow coastal waters and some bays, as well as open ocean waters.
Feeding
Feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans but may consume small schooling fishes.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity; usually 1 pup per litter
Size/Age
Wingspan up to 4 feet.
Human Factors
Protected in Florida state waters. Found singly, in small groups, and in schools. Swimming at high speed and often leap high above the surface. Of little danger to humans.
GIANT MANTA
Manta birostris
Identification
Dark brown to black above, white below. Pectoral fins ("wings") long and pointed. Two large cephalic fins (rostra) protruding from front of head. Mouth wide, terminal. Tail whip-like, but shorter than the length of body and with no spine.
Habitat
Pelagic, mainly in near-shore waters, near coral and rocky reefs; sometimes found over deep water near water's surface. Sometimes penetrates shallow muddy bays and intertidal areas, and occurs off river mouths.
Feeding
Mainly plankton feeders, but may feed on small and moderate-sized fishes as well.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity; up to two pups per litter.
Size/Age
World's largest ray. Wingspan of up to 29.5 feet with an average around 22 feet. Individuals may weigh as much as 4,000 pounds. Maximum reported age of 20 years.
Human Factors
Protected in Florida state waters. Often viewed swimming slowly near surface. Easily approached. May be seen leaping out of the water, possibly as part of mating behavior or to dislodge ectoparasites. Of little danger to humans.
SMALLTOOTH SAWFISH
Pristis pectinata
Identification
The prominent toothed snout makes this ray easy to identify. Usually 24-28 unpaired teeth on each side of the 'saw' (hence the name 'sawfish').
Habitat
Found most commonly in shallow coastal waters but reported as deep as 400 feet; juveniles prefer shallow coastal waters including estuaries and adults are most often found in deeper water.
Feeding
Thought to feed on fishes and benthic crustaceans.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Up to 20 pups per litter.
Size/Age
Maximum length up to 18 feet.
Florida Ray Fish Identification, Species with Fish ID and pictures of fish found in Florida waters
Saltwater Ray Fish Identification from Florida's Official Fishing Forum Site! We provide Fishing Reports and Tips for offshore and inshore Anglers.
Florida the fishing capital of the world, has always been a destination for big game sport fishing.
There are thousands of saltwater fish species found in Florida.
Below are Fish ID with pictures of fish found in Florida waters. Details on each fish species, where to find them, and what they feed on.
This section highlights some of the great diversity of saltwater fishes that Florida has to offer and provides angling tips and identification information.
Florida Ray Identification
Species Profiles Florida of Rays
Learn about several common species of rays found in Florida waters.
Habitat
Commonly found along sandy beaches to the water's edge, and especially in sandy areas in and around coral reefs. Found to depths of ~80 feet.
Feeding
Benthic feeder. Feeds mainly on bivalves and marine worms and also takes shrimp, crabs, and small fishes.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparity. Three to four pups per litter.
