Interspecific Associations of the Rare and Endangered Stingray ( <i>Styracura schmardae</i> ) in Caribbean Sandy‐Bottom Habitats

Interspecific associations between teleost fishes and rays can enhance foraging efficiency or provide benefits, yet such interactions involving benthic stingrays remain poorly documented. Here, we report previously unrecorded associations between the rare and endangered Atlantic chupare stingray (<i>Styracura schmardae</i>) and two teleost species: the needlefish (<i>Strongylura marina</i>) in a nuclear-follower context (<i>n</i> = 2), and the sharksucker (<i>Echeneis naucrates</i>) in hitchhiking associations (<i>n</i> = 15). These records include a nuclear-follower association documented through both direct in situ observations in Costa Rica and citizen science data, and hitchhiking associations identified from a systematic review of 769 photographic records from a citizen science project, spanning multiple Caribbean locations, including The Bahamas, Belize, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. The observed behavior of needlefish indicates potential foraging facilitation, whereas the attachment positions of the remora imply possible hydrodynamic and feeding advantages for the hitchhiker. These findings expand understanding of the ecological role of the little-known elasmobranch species as both a nuclear species and a host. This study also highlights the value of iEcology for revealing rare or cryptic interactions involving threatened marine species.