[citation needed] Stingrays diverged from their closest relatives, the panrays, during the Late Jurassic period, and diversified over the course of the Cretaceous into the different extant families today.

[6][7] Permineralized stingray teeth have been found in sedimentary deposits around the world as far back as the Early Cretaceous.

The extinct Cyclobatis of the Cretaceous of Lebanon is thought to be a skate that had convergently evolved a highly stingray-like body plan, although its exact taxonomic placement is still uncertain.

[10] A diversity of stingray fossils is known from the Eocene Monte Bolca formation from Italy, including the early stingaree Arechia, as well as Dasyomyliobatis, which is thought to represent a transitional form between stingrays and eagle rays, and the highly unusual Lessiniabatis, which had an extremely short and slender tail with no sting.

Stingrays exhibit hyostylic jaw suspension, which means that the mandibular arch is only suspended by an articulation with the hyomandibula.

[12] In general, the teeth have a root implanted within the connective tissue and a visible portion of the tooth, is large and flat, allowing them to crush the bodies of hard shelled prey.

Because their eyes are on top of their bodies and their mouths on the undersides, stingrays cannot see their prey after capture; instead, they use smell and electroreceptors (ampullae of Lorenzini) similar to those of sharks.

During this time, the male stingrays experience increased levels of androgen hormones which has been linked to its prolonged mating periods.

[21] The behavior expressed among males and females during specific parts of this period involves aggressive social interactions.

Seasonal elevated levels of serum androgens coincide with the expressed aggressive behavior, which led to the proposal that androgen steroids start, indorse and maintain aggressive sexual behaviors in the male rays for this species which drives the prolonged mating season.

Similarly, concise elevations of serum androgens in females has been connected to increased aggression and improvement in mate choice.

When their androgen steroid levels are elevated, they are able to improve their mate choice by quickly fleeing from tenacious males when undergoing ovulation succeeding impregnation.

[22] After birth, the offspring generally disassociate from the mother and swim away, having been born with the instinctual abilities to protect and feed themselves.

In a very small number of species, like the giant freshwater stingray (Urogymnus polylepis), the mother "cares" for her young by having them swim with her until they are one-third of her size.

[26] Stingrays that use undulatory locomotion have shorter thicker fins for slower motile movements in benthic areas.

[27] Longer thinner pectoral fins make for faster speeds in oscillation mobility in pelagic zones.

Some have specialized jaws that allow them to crush hard mollusk shells,[28] whereas others use external mouth structures called cephalic lobes to guide plankton into their oral cavity.

[31] With pectoral fins pressed against the substrate, the ray will raise its head, generating a suction force that pulls the prey underneath the body.

Stingrays exhibit a wide range of colors and patterns on their dorsal surface to help them camouflage with the sandy bottom.

Freshwater stingrays in the Amazon feed on insects and break down their tough exoskeletons with mammal-like chewing motions.

[42] The stinging cells of freshwater stingray branch out beyond the lateral grooves to cover a larger surface area along the entire blade.

[43] For example, in Malaysia and Singapore, stingray is commonly grilled over charcoal, then served with spicy sambal sauce.

Nevertheless, certain larger species may be more aggressive and should be approached with caution, as the stingray's defensive reflex (use of its venomous stinger) may result in serious injury or death.

[48] Henry de Monfreid stated in his books that before World War II, in the Horn of Africa, whips were made from the tails of big stingrays and these devices inflicted cruel cuts, so in Aden, the British forbade their use on women and slaves.