Dasyatis chrysonota

Size range: Max disc width 75 cm

Common size: ?

Habitat: Soft. Sandy bottoms, usually close to rocks.

Water column position: Benthic

Colors & patterns: Distinctive blue blotches on dorsal side.

Behavior:

1. Transient. Displays seasonality.
2. Diurnal.
3. Shy. Swims away quickly.
4. Females during gestation are burrowed in the sand and hardly move.

Schooling characteristics: Small aggregations during mating season (Spring).

Native/Exotic: Native.

EM notes: Difficult to distinguish between D. chrysonota, D. pastinaca and D. marmorata. Some guides (Fishbase, FAO) don't consider this species to exist in the Mediterranean.