species family separate populations coastal waters northwestern eastern southwestern atlantic_ocean dwelling species typically inhabits sandy muddy areas patches cover depth migratory offshore waters moving coastal habitats summer largest whip tail atlantic grows weight plain color angular diamond shaped pectoral fin disc long whip tail tail bearing subtle fin fold underneath tail serve distinguish share range found lying buried sediment predator feeds variety benthic invertebrates bony fishes viviparous embryos receiving initially yolk later milk produced mother northwestern atlantic females bear annual litter young fall early winter gestation period months contrast mediterranean evidence females bear litters young year gestation period months rays northwestern atlantic larger birth sexual maturity mediterranean tail spine potentially dangerous humans listed species concern overall northwestern atlantic commercially utilized mediterranean southwestern atlantic subject heavy fishing pressure assessed taxonomy phylogeny description published american naturalist earliest north american works short treatise fishes new_york volume transactions literary philosophical society new york mitchell based account specimens caught long_island designate types named new species greek reference subsequent authors moved species genus ray referred rough tailed rough tailed northern taxonomy fully resolved northwestern atlantic southwestern atlantic eastern atlantic populations differing life history representing complex different species phylogenetic analysis species based morphology found sister species broad form clade southern close relationship southern upheld genetic analysis published colleagues broad found atlantic respectively likely diverged formation panama distribution habitat broadly distributed coastal waters atlantic_ocean western atlantic occurs new_england southward florida bahamas northeastern gulf_of_mexico scattered reports venezuela argentina barrier reef belize eastern atlantic occurs southern bay including mediterranean_sea single record india likely deepest diving recorded depth bahamas regularly occurs mediterranean common depth dwelling species favors live habitat patches rough terrain densely invertebrates adjacent open areas sand mud rays northwestern atlantic usually enter water west_africa recorded lower reaches large rivers favored temperature range important factor determining distribution conducts seasonal eastern united_states december ray found middle outer parts continental shelf cape_hatteras north_carolina florida larger rays occurring south smaller ones spring population moves north cape coast bays preserving north south gradient body sizes similar migration shallow coastal waters summer deeper offshore waters winter apparently occurs mediterranean pregnant females tend found apart individuals description diamond shaped pectoral fin disk times wide long straight gently margins angular outer corners moderately long snout eyes smaller range immediately followed larger curtain skin nostrils finely fringed posterior margin mouth bow shaped row like structures floor seven upper lower tooth rows center functional total number tooth rows greater teeth arranged pattern flattened surfaces base blunt crown juveniles females pointed adult males pelvic fins nearly straight margins angular tips tail long whip like measuring times length disc long saw toothed spine placed atop tail half disc length tail base replacement spines present existing spine long ventral fin fold lower southern individuals completely smooth skin larger rays develop increasing numbers distinctive flat based middle snout tail base dorsal lateral rows tail vary size largest equal diameter eye bear species uniform dark brown olive white dark fin margins largest members family reach long weight females grow larger males biology ecology reportedly highly active spending time buried sediment predator diet generally reflects available prey environment mainly captures prey takes free swimming prey variety invertebrates bony fishes sand lance known consumed massachusetts main prey crabs cancer squid worms delaware bay diet consists shrimp blood worm overall composition nearly identical share bay shrimp major food source virginia florida crustaceans worms important prey sharks large fishes particular great prey live found attached body known parasites species include like viviparous developing embryo initially sustained yolk later milk containing proteins delivered mother finger like projections called left functional adult females eastern united_states reproduction occurs annual cycle mating winter early spring gestation period months females birth typically young fall early winter measure north_africa occurs june december indicating females bear litters year month gestation period females bearing litter year month gestation period smaller northwestern atlantic consistent shorter gestation period size maturity differs regions eastern united_states males females mature respectively north_africa males females mature respectively human interactions large size long spine inflict severe wound dangerous handle aggressive usually occurs deep encountered reported damage farmed beds pectoral fins wings sold human consumption fresh smoked dried rest ray processed obtain liver oil assessed concern worldwide noting large slow species susceptible population northwestern atlantic listed concern targeted utilized commercial fisheries numbers captured incidentally historically ground mediterranean intensive fishing occurs habitat caught incidentally commercial specific data available species declines species led assessed region southwestern atlantic large rays heavily hook line fishing pressure liable increase growing commercial interest large fish products reports suggest landings species decreasing leading regional assessment
Roughtail stingray