Stingrays are a group of sea rays that are cartilaginous fish related to sharks, belonging to the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes
. There are about 220 known stingray species organized into 29 genera
. They are characterized by their wide, flat bodies and long, sharp spines on their tails, which can be venomous
. Some key features of stingrays include:
- Habitat : Stingrays inhabit warm temperate and tropical waters, sometimes in great abundance, and are found in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters throughout the world
- Diet : Most stingrays feed primarily on mollusks, crustaceans, and occasionally on small fish
- Senses : Stingrays have special electrical sensors called ampullae of Lorenzini, which can detect the tiny electrical charges emitted by their prey
. They also have jaw teeth to crush mollusks such as clams, oysters, and mussels
- Swimming : Stingrays swim by undulating their bodies like a wave or flapping their fins like bird wings
- Defense : The stingray's tail may be used to maneuver in the water, but its primary purpose is protection. The spine, or barb, can be ominously fashioned with serrated edges and a sharp point, and the underside may produce venom, which can be fatal to humans
- Reproduction : Stingrays lay eggs, which are protected by a hard, rectangular case often called a "mermaid's purse"
Stingrays prefer shallow, near-shore waters in warm parts of the world, where they spend most of their time lying partially buried on the ocean floor, hiding from predators or waiting for prey to swim by
