Age, growth, reproduction and food of common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca L., 1758) in Iskenderun Bay, the eastern Mediterranean

The age, growth, reproduction, and feeding of common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) were studied using 256 specimens from the iskenderun Bay (eastern Mediterranean). Females made up 43% and males 57% of the individuals. The total length of females ranged from 20.5 to 88 cm (8-51 cm DW), and of males from 20 to 73 cm (7-34 cm DW). The total length-weight and disc width-weight relationships were W = 0.00144 x TL3.31 and W = 0.02168 x DW3.26, respectively. The age data, derived from vertebrae readings, were used to estimate the growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation: L-infinity = 121.5 cm, K = 0.089, t(0) = -1.615. The maximum age was 10 years. The parturition time of common stingray occurred in summer (from May to September). Males matured at 43 cm TL (22 cm DW) and females at 46 cm TL (24 cm DW). The stomachs contained mainly Crustacea. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.