You can see stingrays in Kipp Aquarium as well as in the Natural Encounters building. Varieties in these exhibits include orange-spotted freshwater stingrays and white-spotted freshwater stingrays.

 

 

 

Stingrays get their name from the spine or barb located on their tail, seen near the very left of the photo above. "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin died after being stung in the chest by a marine stingray as he was snorkeling off the coast of Australia; however, this unusual accident misconstrues this primarily docile animal, which uses its stinger not to hunt but to defend itself if it feels threatened. Stingrays prefer slower prey such as aquatic insects, molluscs, or crustaceans. In the video above you can see bloodworms floating near the bottom of the tank, a food offering for our baby stingrays.

 

Stingrays glide gracefully by undulating their body like a wave. Their flat bodies allow for terrific camouflage on the floor of the ocean or a river, where they can bury themselves in the sand so only their eyes are showing. They have large spiracles near their eyes that allow them to breathe easily while buried and motionless. 

 

Marine stingrays can be found in tropical coastal waters throughout the world, and freshwater stingrays are found in Asia, Africa, and South America. Adult stingray species range in size from palm-sized to up to 14 feet in diameter. Most species are widespread and abundant, but there are a few species listed as vulnerable or endangered due to polluted water or other habitat degradation.

 

A group or collection of stingrays is commonly referred to as a "fever" of stingrays.