MOLLET, H., O'SULLIVAN, J., AND WELSH, J. Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey CA 93940 USA

Morphometrics, feeding, growth, litter data, and distribution of the pelagic stingray, Pteroplatytrygon violacea. More questions than answers?

Fifteen pelagic stingrays were used for a short-term feeding and growth experiment from March 1 to October 18, 1995 in a 3 m diameter tank (T = 17.8C) at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Stillborn litters of 3 and 1 were observed in this tank on Sept. 7 and 19, respectively. Additional birth data for 12 litters from four aquaria in Japan, Spain, and California, born between October and March (1984-1995), and field data of 38 specimens in the SI0 collection (1953-1990) were available. We report morphometrics, feeding, and growth data of captive pelagic rays. The litter data suggest different reproductive parameters for pelagic stingray populations in the Pacific, Atlantic, and the Mediterranean Sea. We propose that the eastern Pacific population gives birth in winter far off the coast of Central America and then moves to higher latitudes nearer the coast.
(Session 24, Sunday June 10, Cabildo, 10:30.)