The species name, halleri, is after the young son of Major Granville O. Haller of the United States Army, who was stung on the foot while wading along the shores of San Diego Bay.

[2] This species is endemic to the eastern North Pacific Ocean, from Humboldt Bay in northern California south to Panama.

They inhabit tropical to warm-temperate waters close to shore, usually less than 15 m deep, although they have been reported to a depth of at least 91 m. This species favors soft-bottomed habitats such as mud or sand, often with abundant eelgrass, which they use for camouflage.

[2] Round stingrays have been observed congregating near the warm seawater effluent released by coastal electric generators, which may replicate the conditions of estuary environments.

[5] In nature, round stingrays strongly segregate by age and sex, with the females staying in water deeper than 14 m and males and juveniles in shallower habitat.

[2] Female round stingrays emit a localized positive electric field from near the spiracles behind each eye, which serves to attract males.

[6] Round stingrays grow at 3 cm per year until they reach maturity at around 31 months, at which time their growth rate slows.

The so-called "Ray Bay" at the northern end of Seal Beach, used as a nursery ground by round stingrays, is the most notorious location for these incidents.

[2] Due to its abundance and relatively high rate of reproduction, the round stingray is assessed as of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

[1] Round stingrays frequently make their way into the aquarium trade and are well suited for captive life given their relatively small size and hardiness (if provided with a proper environment).

), a bed of fine substrate (fine sand as opposed to coarse sand and gravel), adequate filtration (given the messy feeding habits of rays), a secure lid or cover, much swimming area (long, wide tanks as opposed to tall, skinny ones), dim lighting, linear flow (aka.

Additionally, any protruding equipment in the aquarium like overflows should be surrounded by polyurethane foam barriers to prevent injury towards the ray and dissolved oxygen levels should be maintained at 7–8ppm (slightly more if ozone is used).

Stray electrical currents and concentrations of metal in the tank water should be avoided meaning that copper should not be used as medicine on this ray.

[7][8] Unhealthy individuals will lose weight and have a seemingly hollow abdomen, become lethargic, have faded markings, and they will take on a light shade of gray.

[citation needed] When it is sold under the last two names, it is often misidentified with the very similar Cortez round stingray (Urobatis maculatus).