Myliobatiformes

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = {{fossil range|Hauterivian|recent|Early Cretaceous to recent{{Cite journal |last=Marmi |first=Josep |last2=Vila # |first2=Bernat |last3=Oms |first3=Oriol |last4=Galobart |first4=Àngel |last5=Cappetta |first5=Henri |date=2010-05-18 |title=Oldest records of stingray spines (Chondrichthyes, Myliobatiformes) |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724631003758011 |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |language=en |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=970–974 |doi=10.1080/02724631003758011 |issn=0272-4634}}}}

| image = Dasyatis brevicaudata 4x3.jpg

| image_caption = Short-tail stingray, Dasyatis brevicaudata

| taxon = Myliobatiformes

| authority = Compagno, 1973

| type_species = Myliobatis aquila

| type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1758

| subdivision_ranks = Families

| subdivision = See text

}}

Myliobatiformes ({{IPAc-en|m|I|l|i|'|Q|b|@|t|ᵻ|f|ɔr|m|iː|z}}), commonly known as stingrays, are one of the four orders of batoids, cartilaginous fishes related to sharks.{{cite web|last1=Froese|first1=R.|last2=Pauly|first2=D.|title=Myliobatiformes|url=http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=196069|website=WoRMS|access-date=4 May 2018}}{{cite web|title=Order Summary for Myliobatiformes|url=http://www.fishbase.org/summary/OrdersSummary.php?order=Myliobatiformes|website=FishBase|access-date=4 May 2018}} They are members of the subclass elasmobranchs.{{Cite web |title=ITIS - Report: Myliobatiformes |url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=649685#null |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=www.itis.gov}} They were formerly included in the order Rajiformes, but more recent phylogenetic studies have shown the myliobatiformes to be a monophyletic group, and its more derived members evolved their highly flattened shapes independently of the skates.{{cite book |title=Fishes of the World |author=Nelson, J.S. |edition=fourth |publisher=John Wiley |year=2006 |isbn=0-471-25031-7 |pages=69–82}}{{cite web|last1=Martin|first1=R. Aidan|title=Myliobatiformes: Stingrays|url=http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/shark_profiles/myliobatiformes.htm|website=ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research|access-date=4 May 2018}}

Characteristics

Myliobatiformes share physical characteristics of a long, thin tail with serrated spines{{Cite book |last=Stepanek |first=Rica |title=A review of the evolution of potamotrygonid freshwater stingrays (Chondrichthyes, Myliobatiformes) |publisher=Unknown Publisher |year=2011}} and a pancake-like body.{{Cite web |title=Stingrays: Species |url=https://www.subdiversion.es/en/species/vertebrates/elasmobranchs/stingrays/#:~:text=Among%20the%20differences%20we%20find,usually%20relatively%20thin%20and%20elongated. |access-date=2025-03-28 |language=en-US}} They share many characteristics with the batoid order Rajiformes, in which they were previously included. The key difference of the orders is the Myliobatiformes' single-lobed pelvic fin, lack of a mid-tail spine, and general lack of a dorsal fin. Myliobatiformes also possess stinging spines along the tail's base, and generally possess large pectoral fins that are completely fused (except Myliobatidae) to the head.{{Citation |last1=Ebert |first1=David A. |title=Chapter Two - Biodiversity, Life History, and Conservation of Northeastern Pacific Chondrichthyans |date=2017-01-01 |work=Advances in Marine Biology |volume=77 |pages=9–78 |editor-last=Larson |editor-first=Shawn E. |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0065288117300068 |access-date=2025-03-28 |series=Northeast Pacific Shark Biology, Research and Conservation Part A |publisher=Academic Press |last2=Bigman |first2=Jennifer S. |last3=Lawson |first3=Julia M. |doi=10.1016/bs.amb.2017.07.001 |editor2-last=Lowry |editor2-first=Dayv}} They can camouflage from predators by using their flat, disk-shaped bodies to lie against the seafloor.

Classification

File:Porcupine ray from Lakshadweep JJH edit.jpg ]]Myliobatiformes is classified as follows in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes:{{cite web |url=https://www.calacademy.org/scientists/catalog-of-fishes-classification/ |title=Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Classification |access-date=28 October 2024 |work=Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes |publisher=California Academy of Sciences}}

Family Zanobatidae Fowler. 1934 (panrays)
Family Hexatrygonidae Heemstra & M. M. Smith, 1980 (sixgill stingrays)
Family Dasyatidae D. S. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879 (whiptail stingrays)
Subfamily Dasyatinae D. S. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879 (stingrays)
Subfamily Neotrygoninae Castelnau, 1873 (shortsnout stingrays)
Subfamily Urogymninae Gray, 1851 (whiprays)
Subfamily Hypolophinae Stromer, 1910 (cowtail stingrays)
Family Potamotrygonidae Garman, 1877 (neotropical stingrays)
Subfamily Styracurinae Carvalho, Loboda & da Silva 2016 (whiptail stingrays)
Subfamily Potamotrygoninae Garman 1877 (river stingrays)
Family Urotrygonidae McEachran, Dunn & Miyake, 1996 (American round stingrays)
Family Gymnuridae Fowler, 1934 (butterfly rays)
Family Plesiobatidae K. Nishida, 1990 (deepwater stingrays or giant stingarees)
Family Urolophidae J. P. Müller & Henle 1841 (round stingrays or stingarees)
Family Aetobatidae Agassiz, 1858 (pelagic eagle rays)
Family Myliobatidae Bonaparte 1835 (eagle rays)
Family Rhinopteridae D. S, Jordan & Evermann, 1896 (cownose rays)
Family Mobulidae Gill, 1893 (mantas or devil rays)

{{notelist}}The family Aetobatidae is recognised by some authorities. It contains the genus Aetobatus, which is otherwise part of Myliobatinae. {{cite journal|last1=White|first1=William T.|last2=Naylor|first2=Gavin J.P.|title=Resurrection of the family Aetobatidae (Myliobatiformes) for the pelagic eagle rays, genus Aetobatus|journal=Zootaxa|volume=4139|issue=3|year=2016|pages=435–438|issn=1175-5334|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4139.3.10|pmid=27470816}}

The families Myliobatidae and Rhombodontidae are sometimes grouped in their own superfamily, Myliobatoidea.{{Cite journal |last1=Hoganson |first1=John |last2=Erickson |first2=J. Mark |last3=Holland |first3=F. D. |title=Chondrichthyan and osteichthyan paleofaunas of the Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) Fox Hills Formation of North Dakota, USA: paleoecology, paleogeography, and extinction. Bulletins of American Paleontology, No. 398: 1–94. |journal=Bulletins of American Paleontology |date=2019 |volume=398 |doi=10.32857/bap.2019.398|doi-broken-date=28 March 2025 }}