While you consider lethal creatures within the ocean, sharks or jellyfish in all probability come to thoughts. However few would anticipate the stingray to be amongst them.
But, in 2006, this very animal was accountable for some of the stunning superstar deaths of the twenty first century, that of famed wildlife professional Steve Irwin, also called The Crocodile Hunter, who died after being struck within the chest by a stingray’s barb. The incident shocked the world, nevertheless it was a uncommon and unlucky accident, not a mirrored image of the stingray’s true nature.
Stingrays are usually not naturally aggressive and usually solely sting in self-defence, normally when unintentionally stepped on in shallow waters. Regardless of their title and their infamous tail backbone, most stingrays are peaceable creatures merely going about their lives within the ocean or rivers.
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What precisely is a stingray?
Stingrays are a kind of cartilaginous fish, that means their skeletons are manufactured from cartilage reasonably than bone, very like their shark kinfolk. They’ve flat, spherical our bodies and lengthy tails, with some species carrying a venomous barb on the base.
Not all rays have stingers, although. Manta rays and satan rays, for example, are utterly innocent to people.
Usually described as resembling swimming pancakes, stingrays are recognized for his or her flat, broad our bodies and trailing tails. Their stinger is hidden on the tail and acts as a defence mechanism.
Some species are additionally simply recognised by their distinctive patterns, corresponding to shiny blue spots or daring black-and-orange markings. Others, just like the cownose ray, have distinctive facial shapes resembling animal options.
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Whereas many stingrays are modest in dimension, some are huge. The smalleye stingray, discovered within the ocean, can develop as much as three metres lengthy, that’s longer than a king-sized mattress.
The biggest freshwater stingray, and actually the most important recorded freshwater fish, was caught within the Mekong River in 2022. It measured practically 4 metres together with its tail and weighed roughly 300 kilograms, across the identical as an grownup male tiger.
Stingrays are backside feeders and luxuriate in a eating regimen of crustaceans like crabs and shrimp, together with molluscs corresponding to oysters and clams. They’ve highly effective jaws designed to crush arduous shells and suction that permits them to vacuum up prey from the ocean ground. Their our bodies are outfitted with specialised electrical sensors that assist detect actions from hidden animals within the sand.
Regardless of their lethal popularity following Steve Irwin’s demise, stingray stings are extraordinarily uncommon and virtually by no means deadly (file)
The place do they reside?
Stingrays are present in heat, tropical waters all world wide. They like shallow coastal areas the place they will bury themselves underneath the sand for camouflage and safety. Some species, just like the smalleye stingray, are recognized for long-distance migrations that may stretch lots of of kilometres, typically tied to replica.
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Freshwater stingrays additionally exist and thrive in river techniques just like the Amazon and the Mekong. These river dwellers are sometimes simply as fascinating as their saltwater cousins.
How harmful are they?
Regardless of their lethal popularity following Steve Irwin’s demise, stingray stings are extraordinarily uncommon and virtually by no means deadly. Most accidents occur when individuals unknowingly step on one whereas strolling in shallow water. The sting will be intensely painful and trigger swelling, cramping, or dizziness, however demise may be very unusual.
One of many most secure methods to keep away from stingray accidents is to do what divers name the “stingray shuffle”, dragging your ft frivolously alongside the ocean ground as a substitute of stepping straight down. This alerts hidden rays, giving them an opportunity to swim away earlier than contact happens.
Like many marine species, stingrays are underneath risk from human actions. Overfishing, air pollution, and habitat destruction have all contributed to the decline of a number of stingray populations. Some species, together with the Mekong and Chinese language stingrays, are at present listed as endangered or critically endangered.
