Myliobatiformes (), commonly known as stingrays, are one of the four orders of batoids, cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are members of the subclass elasmobranchs. 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.

Characteristics

Myliobatiformes share physical characteristics of a long, thin tail with serrated spines and a pancake-like body. They share many characteristics with the batoid order Rajiformes, in which they were previously included. They can camouflage themselves from predators using their flat, disk-shaped bodies to lie against the seafloor.

  • Family Zanobatidae <small>Fowler. 1934</small> (panrays)

Suborder Myliobatoidei Compagno, 1973

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

The family Aetobatidae is recognised by some authorities. It contains the genus Aetobatus, which is otherwise part of Myliobatidae.

The families Myliobatidae and Rhombodontidae are sometimes grouped in their own superfamily, Myliobatoidea.

Cladogram from Rays of the World (2016):

References