Yellow Stingray

Yellow stingrays (Urobatis jamaicensis) inhabit shallow coastal waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, ranging from Florida through the Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean. They prefer sandy or muddy bottoms in seagrass beds, coral reefs, and lagoons at depths typically less than 20 meters. This shallow habitat range makes them one of the most commonly encountered stingrays by snorkelers and divers in the Caribbean.

Yellow stingrays are a small species, reaching a maximum disc width of approximately 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) and a total length including the tail of up to 76 centimeters (about 30 inches). Females tend to grow slightly larger than males. Their small size distinguishes them from many other stingray species that share their range.

Yellow stingrays possess venomous spines on their tails and can inflict painful stings if stepped on or handled, but they are not aggressive toward humans. The standard precaution of shuffling feet while wading in shallow water, known as the "stingray shuffle," helps avoid accidentally stepping on buried rays. The sting causes intense localized pain and swelling but is rarely life-threatening.

Yellow stingrays are benthic feeders that prey primarily on small invertebrates buried in sand or mud, including worms, small crustaceans, and bivalve mollusks. They use their flat teeth to crush hard-shelled prey. Foraging involves flapping their disc-shaped bodies to excavate sand and expose buried food items.