Echinoid test damage by a stingray predator

Abstract

Stingrays (Order: Myliobatiformes) are well-known predators that feed on a variety of marine species including crustaceans, teleosts, molluscs and annelids. Here, a predatory attack by a stingray on the large spatangoid echinoid Meoma ventricosa (Lamarck) is reported from the shallow-water carbonate platform of San Salvador, Bahamas. A single stingray was observed feeding on a large adult specimen of M. ventricosa near Sand Dollar Beach, San Salvador Island. The partially crushed and partially eviscerated test of the attacked echinoid was collected from the feeding site. In addition, a crushed test of a freshly killed, smaller irregular clypeasteroid echinoid Leodia sexiesperforata (Leske) was also recovered at the same site. In both cases, the test was broken across the test plates and not along plate boundaries. Meoma ventricosa showed major plate loss on the oral side; however, bite traces and spine loss were not observed in the damaged areas. Similarly, L. sexiesperforata showed no evidence of spine removal; however, bite marks were identifiable. The observed test damage in both taxa is morphologically distinct and could be potentially identifiable in the fossil record.