Stingray Identification Guide
How to recognize a stingray and tell it from skates and eagle rays.
Read the full Stingray encyclopedia entry →
Stingrays are flattened, cartilaginous fish related to sharks, recognized by their disc-shaped bodies and whip-like tails.
Key identification features
- A flattened, disc-shaped body with the pectoral 'wings' fused to the head.
- A long, thin, whip-like tail, usually bearing one or more barbed spines.
- Eyes on top of the body and the mouth and gill slits underneath.
- Sandy, grey, or brown coloration for camouflage on the seabed.
Stingray vs. skate vs. eagle ray
- Skates: have a thicker, fleshy tail without a stinging spine, and lay eggs (mermaid's purses) rather than bearing live young.
- Eagle Rays: have a distinct protruding head, pointed wings for open-water 'flying', and often spotted backs.
Where you'll see one
Stingrays rest on sandy and muddy bottoms in warm coastal seas and some rivers. A flat disc with a slender, spined, whip-like tail is a stingray; a thicker spineless tail points to a skate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a stingray from a skate?
Stingrays have a thin, whip-like tail with a barbed stinging spine and bear live young, while skates have a fleshier tail without a spine and lay eggs.
Where are a stingray's eyes and mouth?
The eyes are on top of the flattened body while the mouth and gill slits are underneath.
Stingray identified by the community
Recent Stingray catches identified with Fish Identifier.
