Common Name
Lutz's Stingray
Year Described
Petean, Naylor & Lima, 2020
Identification
A short-snouted species of Dasyatis with a broad rhomboidal disk. Eyes and spiracle large. Tips of pectoral fins subangular (not rounded). Pre-orbital length much longer than distance between the spiracles, with slightly convex margins of snout. The dorsal surface has a line of medial and two scapular series of denticles. Median denticles continue down the tail to the caudal spine. Additional denticles on the head are often present. Ventral fin-flap much larger than dorsal. Tail long and whip-like with spine close to tail base. Pelvic fins protrude beyond pectorals.
Color
Disk gray-green to gray-brown with a thin white margin. Dorsum covered in numerous black speckles. Caudal finfolds black. Ventrum white.
Size
Disk width to 68cm with sexes being similar in size.
Habitat
Coastal over sandy bottoms.
Range
Known from Brazil (east of the Amazonian mouth to the southeastern coast). Also Fernando de Noronha.
References
Petean, F.F., Naylor, G.J., & S.M. Lima. 2020. Integrative taxonomy identifies a new stingray species of the genus Hypanus Rafinesque, 1818 (Dasyatidae, Myliobatiformes), from the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic. Journal of Fish Biology, 97(4), 1120-1142.
Other Notes
This species is sister to the eastern Atlantic Hypanus rudis, which in turn are sister to the eastern Pacific H. longa and the NW Atlantic H. americanus. The pattern of black speckles on the dorsum best distinguishes it from H. americanus (Petean et al., 2020).