Styracura schmardae, also known as Caribbean whiptail stingray or chupare stingray, is usually a sooty olive, brown or grey colour on its dorsal side and yellowish to off-white colour on its ventral side. It has a maximum disc width of 200cm, making it one of the largest species of stingray. Ovate in shape with a slender tail much longer than the width of its disc, the tail contains a spine about half its length, which is serrated and poisonous. The top side of the broad disc has eyes and a snout that barely projects, and at the bottom, has a mouth slightly arching with 28-36 rows of teeth that are flat or rounded and arranged in the upper jaw. At the lower center section of the mouth are five papillae, which are nipple-like projections containing taste buds, in a horizontal line. The edges of the disc are broadly rounded without any dorsal or caudal fins, though it contains pelvic fins whose margin extends straight at the front and curved at the back, but does not extend further than the outline of the disc. |
