Stingrays are a part of the shark family known as Dasyatidae. They are common in most tropical and subtropical ocean around the world. There are many types of stingrays around the world. Some live in warmer temperature oceans like the Dasyatis thetidis and some species live entirely in freshwater rivers for example the Dasyatis Laosensis and Himantura chaophraya.
While most species of stingrays live in areas that are not threatened, there are a few species, such as the Dasyatis Laosensis are facing problematic conservation. Hence making them to be listed as endangered species.
Characteristics.
The stingrays can be found in almost any major ocean in the world such as Atlantic, Indian, pacific oceans. Most stingrays are marines and live in salt water but they could also be found in fresh water and where there’s a mixture of fresh and salt water called brackish water. Stingrays breathe through the small holes behind eyes by drawing in the water. Most stingrays are ovoviviparous where the embryo is contained in a membranous egg case, once it has hatch the rays stacks in the oviduct until fully developed. Stingrays are capable to bear up to five to thirteen liters of offspring. As the embryo are in development it feeds of the nutrient from the membranous egg case.
As defensive mechanism the rays has a barbed tail or stingers at the end of their tails. The stinger is a modified dermal denticle that is able to penetrate into the predators hide. Stingrays are usually docile unless threaten. Most injuries inflicted on human are usually on the ankle or calves as humans accidentally step on them. When do so the rays flick its tail in front and stabs the victim. The stinger is compose of the enzymes 5-nucleotidase and phosphodiesterase and the neurotransmitter serotonin. It is a type of venom that cause smooth muscle to severely contract and inflict pain.
Stingrays have flatten bodies so that it can conceal itself in their envoriment.it also acts as a defensive mechanism to prevent being eaten by other predators like sharks and larger fishes. It also helps them to prey on smaller fishes and shrimps. They use their strong semse of smell and highly sensitive electro-receptors to detect their prey. Some stingray’s mouth contains hard, powerful, shell-crushing plates, while others species have sucking mouthparts. Stingrays settle on the bottom to feed. The best place for them to feed are coral reefs.
Stingrays have flatten bodies so that it can conceal itself in their environment it also acts as a defensive mechanism to prevent being eaten by other predators like sharks and larger fishes. It also helps them to prey on smaller fishes and shrimps. They use their strong sense of smell and highly sensitive electro-receptors to detect their prey. Some stingray’s mouth contains hard, powerful, shell-crushing plates, while others species have sucking mouthparts. Stingrays settle on the bottom to feed. The best place for them to feed are coral reefs.
Eco-tourism.
Stingrays are very shy and curious animals. Normally they will flee away from any disturbance, thinking that it is a threat to them. But sometimes they will brush their fins pass any object out of curiosity. However, certain larger species are usually more aggressive and must be approached with caution by humans, as their reflexes may result in serious injury or even death. Recently an Australian zoologist name Steve Irwin lost his life when a giant stingray stab through his heart with its stingers. Since then, divers and marine zoologists are more aware of the aggressiveness and the power of stingrays.
Stingrays are not normally visible to swimmers. But divers and snorkelers are able to see them in shallow waters when the water in warm. In the Cayman Islands there are several dive sites called Stingray City, Grand Cayman, where divers and snorkelers can swim with the large southern stingrays and watch professional divers feed the stingrays by hand.
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