They glide gracefully in coastal waters and around the islands of the sea and can be found in the depths of the oceans, whether cold or hot, and even in some lakes and rivers. These are? They are members of the Stingray family, creatures of the depths that seem to fly.
You don't have to be a diver or deep-sea fisherman to appreciate the beauty of the stingray flight, and you don't have to be in the water either. As marine biologist Bart points out, bathers are often confronted with the sight of winged rays jumping out of the water.
There are several hundred types of rays, the size of which ranges from a few centimeters to several meters. You can see his resemblance to his father, the shark. Stingray eggs, unlike most fish, are fertilized in the body of the female. Stingrays, members of the stingray family, lay their eggs fertilized while eggs from other rays hatch inside the female and the young are born alive - miniatures of their parents.
Among the most famous are the stingrays, whose bodies are boned and made of cartilage, with a fin on each side that extends from the head to the base of the tail. Mantas can be diamond-shaped, circular, or look like a dragon with a tail. Their flattened bodies offer very little resistance to water. The undulations of their fins give them the power to glide over the sea as if they were flying with ease. When you're not swimming, the stingrays hide on the sandy bottom.
Stingray eyes are on top of the head while the mouth is on the bottom. They have hard teeth and strong jaws that allow them to break clams. This is why they are not welcome on an oyster farm as seafood is their favorite food. Stingrays themselves are edible to humans and are sometimes used as a substitute for scallops in recipes.
Its distinctive name, manta ray, comes from the poisonous spines on its long tail. The tail can cause a poisonous and painful sting if the beam is trampled, mistreated, or threatened by enemies. Thorns usually penetrate deep into the wound, making it difficult to remove and can lead to serious infections if the wound is not treated properly. If you are bitten by lightning, wash the area thoroughly with water and, if necessary, seawater. As soon as possible, submerge the wound in hot water, as hot as possible. Hot water destroys the poison and relieves pain. Then go to the doctor immediately.
While their pointy tails can scare you, stingrays are generally not aggressive and tend to only use their tails when threatened. Bart, mentioned at the beginning of the article, found the stingrays very friendly when he and his wife swam with them in the Cayman Islands at a place known as the feeding camp for friendly stingrays. He reports: “We kneeled down, about five meters deep. When we started feeding them we were surrounded by the stingrays! There were probably 30 or 40 rays of all sizes in our group. In search of food, the rays began at the knees and went to the forehead, back and head, swam gently and even urged us to eat. It was amazing how docile these beautiful creatures were. They even made us rub our stomachs as they crushed us. Bart mentioned that these rays became so harmless that no seizures were recorded in all the years that people swam with them.
Those of us who are not experienced divers can enjoy stingrays in shallow water or in aquariums around the world. Many aquariums have pet tanks with stingrays, but their barbs have been removed as a precaution. Ron Hardy, owner of Gulf World in Panama City, Florida, said, “One of the best examples of the ability to display live animals is our stingray kiddie pool. People seem scared of stingrays, almost a phobia, but you have to see their opinions change as they learn the facts from our narrative! After touching one, they begin to admire the grace and beauty of lightning. In fact, some miss the next dolphin show only to keep interacting with the rays. ""
Perhaps after learning about lightning, your concern has decreased. Remember, however, that they often hide in the sandy bottom of warm, shallow waters. Therefore, when wading in these areas, move your feet instead of lifting them. This way you will warn the rays of your approach, avoiding lightning bolts entering and possibly feeling the sting of this beautiful flying creature from below.
Interesting creatures