| Family: |
Dasyatidae (Stingrays), subfamily: Urogymninae |
| Max. size: |
30 cm WD (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,000.0 g |
| Environment: |
demersal; brackish; marine; depth range - 60 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Central Atlantic: West African coast from Cape Blanc in Mauritania to Angola (Ref. 7397, 81259, 81625, 114953). Often confused with Dasyatis margarita (Günther, 1870) (Ref. 7397). |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 116-128. Diagnosis: Dasyatis margaritella is the smallest dasyatid in West Africa (Ref. 26277). It is most similar to Dasyatis margarita, which is larger and has a larger pearl spine, and more numerous pectoral radials, 133-135 vs. 116-127 in D. margaritella (Ref. 26277). It is also similar to D. garouaensis, which has a much flatter disc and a longer snout (Ref. 26277).
Description: Disc rounded-oval, width and length roughly equal, with broadly rounded corners, and moderately flat; its medial lobe broad-based and exserted, its anterior margin concave; disc depth 11.0-15.5% of disc width, disc width 0.9-1.1 times disc length (Ref. 26277, 81259, 81625). Middle third of disc covered with small heart-shaped or circular flat denticles; no enlarged thorns on disc or tail (Ref. 26277). Snout moderately long, acutely pointed, giving the body a slightly pentagonal appearance (Ref. 26277, 81259). Eyes and spiracles about equal size; nasal curtain with fringed posterior margin and groove extending from nasal flap to mouth corners (Ref. 81625). Upper jaw slightly undulate, with a great number of tooth rows: 24-41/34-50; 5 fleshy papillae on mouth floor (Ref. 7397, 81259, 81625). Pelvic fins projecting only slightly from posterior disc margin (Ref. 81625). Total number of pectoral radials 113-127 (Ref. 7397, 81259, 81625). Tail long and slender, tapering from base, with numerous sharp denticles posterior to stings; tail base about one-half of interorbital length, depressed in cross-section, horizontally oval; dorsal tail-fold reduced to a low keel posterior to caudal stings, but ventral tail-fold moderately high (Ref. 81625). Pearl spine always present and moderately large (Ref. 26277).
Colouration: Disc and pelvic fins gray-brown above, without spots or prominent markings, white below and without a marginal dark band (Ref. 26277, 81625). |
| Biology: |
Dasyatis margaritella is the most common littoral stingray on the West African coast and it enter lagoons, shallow bays and estuaries (Ref. 7397, 81259). Most likely feeds on small invertebrates (Ref. 114953). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 04 August 2020 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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