Elasmobranchii (haaien en roggen) (sharks and rays) >
Myliobatiformes (Stingrays) >
Dasyatidae (Stingrays) > Urogymninae
Etymology: margaritella: Named for the smaller size of this stingray and of its pearl (Latin: margarita) spine, as compared to Dasyatis margarita (Ref. 26277).
Eponymy: Margaritella is the diminutive of Margarita and is used to show this species is smaller than its relative (see Margarita above). The vernacular name is not only used to convey ‘Little Pearl’ but to reflect the fact that this species has a pearl spine. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Compagno & Roberts.
Taxonomic Remarks
Distribution will be corrected.
Milieu: milieu / Klimaatzone / Diepte / verspreidingsgebied
Ecologie
marien; brak water demersaal; diepte ? - 60 m (Ref. 114953). Tropical
Eastern Central Atlantic: West African coast from Cape Blanc in Mauritania to Angola (Ref. 7397, 81259, 81625, 114953). Often confused with Dasyatis margarita (Günther, 1870) (Ref. 7397).
Grootte / Gewicht / Leeftijd
Maturiteit: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm WD mannelijk / geslacht onbekend; (Ref. 81259); max. gepubliceerd gewicht: 1.0 kg (Ref. 81259)
Wervels: 116 - 128. Diagnosis: Dasyatis margaritella is the smallest dasyatid in West Africa (Ref. 26277). It is most similar to Dasyatis margarita, which is larger and has a larger pearl spine, and more numerous pectoral radials, 133-135 vs. 116-127 in D. margaritella (Ref. 26277). It is also similar to D. garouaensis, which has a much flatter disc and a longer snout (Ref. 26277).
Body shape (shape guide): other; Cross section: flattened.
Dasyatis margaritella is the most common littoral stingray on the West African coast and it enter lagoons, shallow bays and estuaries (Ref. 7397, 81259). Most likely feeds on small invertebrates (Ref. 114953). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449).
Levenscyclus en paargedrag
Maturiteit | Voortplanting | Paaien | Eieren | Fecunditeit | Larven
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
Séret, B., 2003. Dasyatidae. p. 81-96. In D. Paugy, C. Lévêque and G.G Teugels (eds.) The fresh and brackish water fishes of West Africa Volume 1. Collection Faune et Flore Tropicales 40. Institut de recherche de développement, Paris, France, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris, France and Musée royal de l'Afrique Central, Tervuren, Belgium, 457p. (Ref. 81259)
Status op de Rode Lijst van het IUCN (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Gevaar voor de mens
Harmless
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Schattingen op basis van modellen
Gewenste temperatuur (Ref.
123201): 23.7 - 28, mean 26.6 °C (based on 66 cells).
Fylogenetische diversiteitsindex (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01023 (0.00482 - 0.02174), b=3.06 (2.86 - 3.26), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trofisch niveau (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.13 se; based on food items.
Weerstandsvermogen (Ref.
120179): laag, minimale populatieverdubbelingstijd 4,5-14 jaar (Assuming fecundity<100).
Kwetsbaarheid van de visserij (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
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Voedingsstoffen (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 63.4 [13.9, 304.2] mg/100g; Iron = 0.84 [0.21, 2.38] mg/100g; Protein = 21.7 [18.8, 24.8] %; Omega3 = 0.222 [0.061, 0.662] g/100g; Selenium = 27.6 [8.0, 80.2] μg/100g; VitaminA = 34.4 [12.4, 91.8] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.38 [0.67, 2.66] mg/100g (wet weight);