Animals
Facts about stingrays
Pancakes of the sea
One of the most distinguished known fish, stingrays are common in tropical and subtropical waters. There are over 200 species of stingrays, all equally intriguing.
1
Stingrays are related to sharks. Both sharks and stingrays belong to the Elasmobranchii subclass of Chondrichthyes.
2
There are around 220 species of stingrays, which are organized in 29 genera.
3
They date back 150 million years to the Jurassic period.
4
Stingrays mostly occupy tropical and subtropical waters. Depending on the species, they can also be found in temperate oceans, and even in the deep ocean.
5
They display sexual dimorphism. Females are not only larger than males and live longer, but they also reach sexual maturity faster.
6
The average lifespan of a stingray depends on gender. Males live up to 7 years, females for an average of 15 to 22 years.
7
They are carnivorous. Their diet consists of small animals found on or under the sand. The typical meal comprises ray-finned fish, crustaceans, snails, shrimps, and worms.
8
Stingrays use electromagnetic senses to hunt for food. Not only their eyesight is poor, but their eyes are located on top of their body. Thus, they use ampullae of Lorenzini—electroreceptors located around their mouths—to sense the location of their prey.
9
They have several natural predators, including seals, sea lions, some large fish, and sharks.
10
Stingrays are ovoviviparous. Young are hatched from eggs stored within the female’s body.
