|
The Stingray is any of a class of cartilaginous marine animals
of the subclass Elasmobranchii, orders Myliobatiformes (rays)
or Rajiformes (skates), found in both salt- and fresh-coastal
waters, as well as some rivers, around the world. Species/Families
of stingray include the round ray, Bat Ray (Myliobatis californica),
Manta ray, diamond ray, Southern Stingray (dasyatis americana),
Atlantic Stingray (Dasyatis sabina), Yellow Stingray (Urolophus
jamaiensis), Blue Spot Stingray (Taeniura lymma) Dasyatidae, Freshwater
Stingray (Dasyatidae Paratrygon), Big Skate (Raja binoculata),
butterfly ray (Gymnuridae), Pelagic Stingray (Dasyatis Pteroplatytrygon
violacea) and Cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus). Most species of
stingray are neither threatened or endangered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Their stinger
is a razor-sharp, barbed or serrated cartilage which grows from
the ray's whip-like tail (like a fingernail). It is coated with
a toxic venom. Stingrays do not
"attack" aggressively, or even actively defend themselves
- when threatened their primary reaction is to swim away. However,
when they are attacked by predators or stepped on, the barbed
stinger in their tail is mechanically whipped up, usually into
the offending foot; it is also possible, although less likely,
to be stung "accidentally" by brushing against the stinger.
Contact with the stinger causes local trauma (from the cut itself),
pain and swelling from the venom, and possible infection from
parts of the stinger left in the wound, as well as from seawater
entering the wound. It is possible for ray stings to be fatal
if they sever major arteries, are in the chest or pelvic region,
or are improperly treated. Their stingers are normally ineffective
against their main predator, sharks.
Above Images Come From The NOAA
|
|
|
