Ecology of Hypanus americanus
 
Main Ref. Randall, J.E., 1967
Remarks Found on sandy bottoms, seagrass beds, lagoons and the reef face (Ref. 12951). Common in bays and estuaries (Ref. 7251). Observed singly, in pairs and in aggregations (Ref. 12951). Buries in the sand during the day and forages at night, usually in seagrass beds (Ref. 12951). Feeds mainly on bivalves and worms and also takes shrimps, crabs and small fishes (Ref. 3168). Omnivore (Ref. 57616). Feeds by creating depressions in the sand to expose invertebrates and small fishes (Ref. 9710). Equipped with a well-developed serrated spine and capable of inflicting a painful laceration. Easily approached by divers (Ref. 9710).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Hypanus americanus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Soft Bottom: sand;
Substrate Ref. Michael, S.W., 1993
Special habitats Beds: sea grass;: lagoons;
Special habitats Ref. Michael, S.W., 1993

Associations

Ref. Michael, S.W., 1993
Associations solitary; schooling;
Associated with May be found in cleaning stations where they are attended to by the bluehead wrasse and Spanish hogfish (Ref. 12951).
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Randall, J.E., 1967
Feeding habit variable
Feeding habit Ref. Gómez-Canchong, P., L. Manjarrés M., L.O. Duarte and J. Altamar, 2004
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 3.51 3.48 0.56 Troph of adults from 1 study.
From individual food items 3.72 0.65 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Bowman, R.E., C.E. Stillwell, W.L. Michaels and M.D. Grosslein, 2000
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. oophagy)
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