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Pteropltytrygon violacea (Bonaparte, 1832)
Pelagic Stingray
Family: Dasyatidae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

© Public Domain     (Photo ID #16818)

Map

Source: Distribution of Pteropltytrygon violacea as compiled by Aquamaps

Species Information

A thick, dark stingray with a broadly rounded snout and an angular pectoral disc; tail less than twice body length with a long lower caudal finfold ending far in front of tail tip, but with no upper finfold; disc without thorns; usually 1 extremely long sting on tail; eyes do not protrude (Ref. 5578). Uniformly violet, purple, or dark blue-green dorsally and ventrally (Ref. 3263). No prominent markings (Ref. 3263).

Source: FishBase. FishBase. Compagno, L.J.V. 1999 . (Ref. 35766)

Biology

Species Biology

Found in open, tropical and warm temperate waters usually in the first 100 m. Possibly the only totally pelagic member of the family (Ref. 6871). Feeds on coelenterates (including medusae), squid, decapod crustaceans, and fish. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Venomous spine on tail. Common catch of the pelagic tuna (and shark) longline and gillnet fisheries (drift, Ref. 75025) operating throughout the region (Ref. 58048); also by purse-seine and bottom trawls (Ref. 75025). pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 1 - 381 m (Ref. 58302), usually 1 - 100 m (Ref. 55209). Subtropical.

Source: FishBase. FishBase. Compagno, L.J.V. 1999 . (Ref. 35766)

Distribution

Distribution

Probably cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical seas. Eastern Atlantic: southeastern coasts of the Mediterranean and off Sicily. Reported from Cape Verde (Ref. 34514). Eastern Pacific: California (USA), Baja California (Mexico), and the Galapagos Islands Reported off Vancouver (Ref. 11980) and from Chile (Ref. 9068). Western Atlantic (Ref. 7251). There are 4 records from southern Africa (Ref. 11228).

Source: FishBase. FishBase. Compagno, L.J.V. 1999 . (Ref. 35766)

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Dasyatis violacea (Bonaparte, 1832)

Additional Range and Status Information Links

NatureServe Explorer
 University of Alaska Museum

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