This quick key is a guide to the most common stingrays you’ll find in Florida waters.

Full list of rays and skates

1a) Disc round in shape, colored yellowish with spots Urobatis jamaicensis– Yellow stingray
1b) Disc roughly diamond shaped, no such color (Dasyatis) Go to question 2

 

2a) Tips of wings more or less rounded, disc obviously wider (wingtip to wingtip) than long (snout to posterior disc margin) Go to question 3
2b) Tips of wings more or less pointed, disc about as wide as wide as long  Go to question 4

 

3a) Distance from tip of snout to eyes greater than distance between eyes, anterior margins of disc somewhat concave anterior to level of eyes, generally brackish and fresh water Dasyatis sabina – Atlantic stingray
3b) Distance from tip of snout to eyes less than distance between eyes, anterior margins of disc straight anterior to level of eyes, generally marine waters  Dasyatis say – Bluntnose stingray

 

4a) Tail with large thorns (bucklers), not usually found coastally Dasyatis centroura – Roughtail stingray
4b) Tail with small spines only, found coastally and in somewhat deeper water  Dasyatis americana – Southern stingray