The Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis sabina , is a small ray distributed throughout shallow water habitats in the southeastern United States. Body color on the dorsal surface ranges from a medium brown to dark brown, and is generally uniform. The ventral surface is white. Rays are dorsoventrally flattened, with pectoral fins expanded toward, and fusing with the head.
Gill openings are ventral in all rays.
The caudal and dorsal fins are reduced or absent in some species. There are 9 genera in the Dasyatidae family, most of which posses a hardened spine or barb near the base of the tail. The Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis sabina, is distributed along the Atlantic coast from Chesapeake Bay to South Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. It is most abundant throughout coastal waters in Florida, but also has stable populations in Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. D. sabina occurs throughout the Indian River Lagoon, and is most common in shallow water habitats.