The Brown Stingray, Broad Stingray – Bathytoshia lata is a large and distinctive ray species found in the marine environments of the world. This species is known for its broad, flattened body, distinctive coloration, and formidable tail-borne spine.
Description & Characteristics
The Bathytoshia lata can reach an impressive maximum size of 260.0 cm in length. Its body is typically brown in color, giving rise to its common name. The species is also known for its broad, wing-like pectoral fins, which contribute to its overall flattened shape. These fins are used for locomotion, allowing the ray to glide gracefully through the water. The Bathytoshia lata possesses a distinctive, whip-like tail armed with a venomous spine, serving as a primary defense mechanism against predators.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Bathytoshia lata is found in a wide range of marine habitats, with a depth range spanning from 1.0 to 800.0 meters. This species is often encountered in both coastal and deep-sea environments. While their precise distribution varies based on geographical location, the Bathytoshia lata is known to be prevalent in several marine zones, including the epipelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic zones.
Taxonomy
The Bathytoshia lata belongs to the Class: Elasmobranchii, which encompasses cartilaginous fishes, including sharks, rays, and chimaeras. It is further classified within the Order: Myliobatiformes, a group that includes eagle rays, stingrays, and guitarfishes. This species is a member of the Family: Dasyatidae, known as the stingray family.
Feeding
The Bathytoshia lata is a carnivorous species, feeding primarily on a diet of fish (little fishes), invertebrates, and zoobenthos. These creatures are primarily bottom feeders, using their sensitive electroreceptors to locate prey in the sediment. Their powerful jaws allow them to crush and consume a variety of food sources, contributing to their ecological role as apex predators in their respective habitats.
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