Leopard Round Ray

About the Leopard Round Ray

The leopard round stingray (Urobatis pardalis) or Central American round stingray and Costa Rican round stingray is a small species of round ray found in shallow waters off the coast from Costa Rica to Colombia in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The species name, pardalis, is from the leopard round stingray's dorsal patterning which resembles that of a leopard. This species is endemic to the Tropical Eastern Pacific, from Costa Rica to Colombia. They can be observed from the intertidal zone to a depth of around 20 m (65.6 ft) inhabiting reefs, seagrass meadows, and sandy areas on continental shelves.

The leopard round stingray has a circular body disc with a dorsum that lacks tubercles. Its dorsum also possesses a grayish or tan base coloration, dusky patches that usually form a honeycomb pattern, and small, and dark spots that vary in size. The ray's thick tail (which is shorter than its disc) is armed with a venomous tail spine. The average proportions for an adult ray is around 38 cm (15.0 in) or 25 cm (9.8 in) in total length and the maximum size is around 30 cm (11.8 in) in width and 46 cm (18.1 in) in total length with... Wikipedia →