Common
Names:
Rogers Roundray,
Roger's stingray, thorny roundray,
lined roundray, thorny stingray, lined round stingray.
Latin Name: Urotrygon
rogersi.
Family:
Urotrygonidae
Identification:
Disc rounded but angular
with almost straight anterior margins terminating in a prominently pointed
snout. Dorsum light brown to pink lightening towards disc margin. Scattering of
irregular darker spots and blotches. A row of 30 tubercles along centre-line of
back from behind eyes to tail sting. Caudal fin spatulate but narrow.
Size:
Maximum disc width 46cm.
Habitat:
Turbid, shallow
sandy
bays and continental shelf. Intertidal to at least 20m.
Abundance
and distribution: Coastal Eastern
Pacific from southern Baja to Ecuador. Ventures as far north as Southern
California during periods of extremely warm weather.
Rogers roundray is an abundant inhabitant of the intertidal zone in
Panama Bay.
Behavior: Forages
over sand for small fish and crustaceans.
Reproduction:
Ovoviviparous.
Photographs:
Punta Chamé, Bay of Panama,
Panama.
Similar
species:
The rogers round stingray shares its range with a number of very similar looking
Urotrygon rays.
The spinytail roundray (Urotrygon aspidura) is very similar but has
straight rear margins to its pelvic fins.
The Chilean roundray (Urotrygon chilensis) is virtually identical but
usually has more spots forming a mottled pattern on its dorsum.
The Pygmy roundray (Urotrygon nana) has a subtle network of fine lines
covering its dorsum.
The Round Stingray
(Urobatis halleri)
is usually heavily patterned but
sometimes has a barely
definable pattern over a network of fine light and dark spots.
Reaction
to divers: Remains motionless
under a fine covering of sand.
May remain still even after sand has been fanned away but usually re-covers
itself by undulating its disc. Will bolt if persistently molested.
Diving
logistics: This
species is abundant in the Bay of Panama but visibility in the surf zone makes
diving with it almost impossible in most places. If fact, the entire
Pacific Slope in Central America makes inshore diving or snorkeling very
challenging. There is a protected beach on the north side of the Punta Chamé
Peninsula that is relatively calm and clear in the dry season. Try beach
snorkeling there at low tide.
Other
diving locations submitted by readers:
References
and further reading:
Smithsonian Field Station in Panama:
http://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/sftep/taxon_option_main.php?id=44
Fishbase:
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/speciessummary.php?id=13285
