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.