Cousins of the shark, stingrays come in two general types: benthic (bottom dwellers) and pelagic (swimmers). Whether they are buried in the sandy sea bottom or are found gliding their way through shallow waters along the coast, stingrays are mostly docile creatures only prone to strike out in defensive reflex.
Benthic stingrays (Atlantic stingray) are most often found buried in the sand and have a diamond-shaped, flat body. Bottom feeders, they eat worms, clams, shrimp, crabs, snails and small fish. Pelagic stingrays (devil ray, manta ray) are the more active swimmers with a bat-like shape. They also feed on bottom-dwelling organisms.
Eco-Tourism and Stingrays
Stingrays mostly flee from any disturbance in the water. Certain larger species may be more aggressive and should only be approached with caution as the ray’s defensive reflex may result in serious injury or in a rare case, even death, such as the horrific case of Steve Irwin, Croc Hunter.
In Grand Cayman one can find several dive sites (Stingray City is one) where divers and snorkelers can swim with large Southern Stingrays. Tour and group leaders can be seen hand-feeding these incredible creatures.
Stingray Information
Stingrays spend the majority of their lives in salt water, partially buried in sand, moving with the sway of the tides. Their preference is warm salt water rather than cold, like any tropical tourist.
Their coloring reflects the sea floor’s shading, making for excellent camouflage. They swim by rippling or undulating like the very waves they live in, or flap their sides like wings, gliding as if in underwater flight.
Stingrays have an ability to undergo color changes in response to light stimuli. Variable colorations exist among these elasmobranchs (a class of fish including sharks, rays and skates) but colors tend to be muted with bright spots, stripes, or blotches of yellow, blue or red.
Average Stingray Life Span, Size, Age, Sting
Stingrays live for an average of 15 to 25 years. They can weigh up to nearly 800 lbs and grow to be as large as 6.5 feet long. With 70 different species in seven genera, the stingray is almost mystical when seen in the wild.
The stinger of a stingray is actually a spine with two grooves filled with venom-producing tissue. The venom does cause intense pain in mammals and may also alter heart rate and respiration. The stinger usually breaks off in the wound, causing the following effects:
- Local trauma from the cut itself
- Pain and swelling from the venom
- Possible later infection from bacteria, including tetanus
- Possible death in rare instances
Treatment for Sting from a Stingray
- Hot water, or even urine, which might provide some small relief initially
- Antibiotics
- Local anesthesia
The wound should be properly cleaned by a medical practitioner to avoid secondary infections or complications. Sometimes, even further testing will be done to make certain there are no microscopic fragments of the stinger (spine) left in the wound.
How to Avoid Stepping on a Stingray
Humans are typically stung on their feet or lower leg areas but surfers and ocean swimmers have learned to do the Stingray Shuffle. To do the shuffle, slide feet through the water just above the sand rather than lifting the foot up and down. The rays can detect the underwater sliding movement and will skitter away to avoid contact.
Knowing the stingray's habitat and typical shy attitude is helpful for tourists who can usually spot them in groups along the Florida gulf coast in summer months.
Sources:
Nancy Passarelli and Andrew Piercy, "Atlantic Stingray", website of the Florida Museum of Natural History.
"Stingray", website of National Geographic.
Parsons, Glenn R. Sharks, Skates, and Rays of the Gulf of Mexico: A Field Guide, 2006. University Press of Mississippi, 165 pgs ISBN 1-57806-827-4
Vicki F. Chavis - Growing up in Asia, Europe and North America left Vicki with a love of cuisine, history, language, fashion and travel. Today she writes on ...
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