Southern Stingray

The Southern Stingray is a large, iconic Caribbean ray frequently encountered by divers at popular sites like Stingray City in Grand Cayman. Its broad, diamond-shaped disc reaches widths of up to five feet, with a dark brown to olive-gray dorsal surface and a white underside. The muscular tail bears a large venomous barb capable of inflicting serious injury.

This species is a staple of public aquarium displays but is entirely unsuitable for home aquaria due to its enormous adult size. In the wild, it inhabits sandy flats, seagrass beds, and lagoons throughout the Caribbean and western Atlantic, often burying itself in sand with only its eyes and spiracles visible.

Maintaining Southern Stingrays requires massive, purpose-built enclosures with extensive sand beds, industrial filtration, and professional husbandry staff. These rays are intelligent and can become remarkably interactive with their keepers, readily accepting hand-fed meals.