Most of the previous research on the feeding habits of the southern stingray
has been limited to simple descriptions of the prey items found in several stomachs.
Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) described the stomach contents of several
southern stingrays captured off Bimini, Bahamas. Snelson and Williams (1981)
noted the prey items found in three stingrays captured in the Indian River Lagoon
System, Florida. Quantitative information on the diet of the southern stingray is
very limited. Randall (1967) determined the volumetric importance of prey items
in the diet of the southern stingray from his study on the food habits of fishes in
the Virgin Islands. A study by Funicelli (1975) discussed the diet and feeding
habits of the southern stingray in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this study
is to quantitatively describe the diet and feeding habits of the southern stingray
in a tropical environment via stomach content analysis. This analysis focuses on
the quantitative contribution of