Dasyatidae

Groovebelly stingray

Dasyatis hypostigma

A W shaped groove beneath the gills

• Tropical
• Regional distribution
• Atlantic Ocean
• South America
• Large
• Tropical fish

The groovebelly stingray (Dasyatis hypostigma), referred to as the butter stingray by fishery workers, is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It is found over sandy or muddy bottoms in shallow coastal waters off southern Brazil, and probably Uruguay and Argentina. The groovebelly stingray can be distinguished by a prominent W-shaped furrow on its underside behind the last pair of gill slits, as well as completely smooth skin in all but the largest individuals.