Dasyatis dipterura is a demersal stingray known primarily from relatively shallow, inshore waters over sand and mud bottoms or near rocky outcrops and kelp beds (Feder et al. 1974, Eschmeyer et al. 1983). Off southern California, the species has been reported to occupy shallow waters (intertidal to 7 m) in the summer and moves to depths of 13 to 17.7 m during the late fall and winter months (Feder et al. 1974). In Chile the species has been reported at depths of 3 to 30 m. However, Chave and Mundy (1994) reported D. dipterura from depths of 52 to 150 m over sand bottoms in the Hawaiian archipelago. The Hawaiian records may represent a misidentification or indicate that a much broader depth range may be potentially utilized by this species.

The limited biological information available for D. dipterura is derived primarily from the Bahía Magdalena lagoon complex, Baja California Sur, México. These parameters may differ markedly throughout the species? range. In the Bahía Magdalena lagoon complex, courtship and insemination is thought to occur in the late summer during July and August (Mariano-Melendez 1997). Sperm storage or diapause may contribute to delayed development of embryos and gestation is suggested to occur over 2 to 2.5 months with pupping taking place the following summer (July-September) in shallow estuaries (Mariano-Melendez 1997). Reproduction appears to be annual and litter sizes range from one to four pups (Mariano-Melendez 1997, Smith 2004). Reproductive mode is aplacental viviparity in which embryos are nourished by a combination of a small yolk-sac and histotrophe secreted from the uterus (as with all myliobatoid rays). Only a single ovary is functional. Maximum size is ~100 cm disc width (DW) (McEachran and Notarbartolo-di-Sciara 1995) and size at birth ranges 18 to 23 cm DW (Mariano-Melendez 1997, Smith 2004). The median size at maturity is estimated to be 58.5 cm DW (males) and 43.4 cm DW (females). Growth estimates based on vertebral ageing indicate that these sizes correspond to ages of 10 years in females and seven years in males (see life history parameters below for other maturity estimates). Age analysis indicates slow growth rates and maximum observed ages up to 28 years. Von Bertalanffy models estimate growth coefficients of 0.55 y^-1 for females and 0.10 y^-1 for males (Smith 2004). Females attain greater sizes and ages than males. Catch records suggest that the species may segregate by size and sex (Mathews and Druck-Gonzalez 1975, Smith 2004).

Diet is comprised primarily of infaunal organisms and large feeding pits are excavated by jetting water and through movements of the pectoral fins. Some epibenthic species are also taken. In the Bahía Magdalena lagoon complex, pea crabs (Pinnotheridae), razor clams (Solyema valvulus) and polychaetes are the primary prey items, in order of decreasing importance (Bizzarro 2005).

Life history parameters
Age at maturity: 10 years (50% maturity) (Smith 2004) (female); 7 years (50% maturity) (Smith 2004) (male).
Size at maturity (disc width): 50% Maturity: 58.5 cm DW (Smith 2004), 65.5 cm DW (Mariano-Melendez 1997), 1st Maturity: 57 cm DW (Smith 2004) (female); 50% Maturity: 43.3 cm DW (Smith 2004), 45.5 cm DW (Mariano-Melendez 1997), 1st Maturity: 47 cm DW (Smith 2004) (male).
Longevity: at least 28 years (maximum observed) (Smith 2004).
Maximum size (disc width): ~100 cm DW (McEachran and Notarbartolo-di-Sciara 1995).
Size at birth: 18 to 23 cm DW (Mariano-Melendez 1997, Smith 2004).
Average reproductive age: 14.6 years (Smith 2004).
Gestation time: ~2.5 to 3 months (Mariano-Melendez 1997).
Reproductive periodicity: Annual (Mariano-Melendez 1997).
Average annual fecundity or litter size: Maximum observed: 4 (Mariano-Melendez 1997); Mean litter size: 2.7 (Smith 2004).
Annual rate of population increase: Mean ? = 1.06 per year (Smith 2004).
Natural mortality: General indirect estimates: 0.07 to 0.15 per year (range; multiple methods of estimation) (Smith 2004); Age-specific indirect estimates: 0.03?0.35 per year (range; Peterson and Wroblewski and Chen and Watanabe approaches) (Smith 2004).