The stingray fish is an ancient inhabitant of the water depths. These mysterious creatures, along with sharks (their closest relatives), are the oldest inhabitants of the sea kingdom. Stingrays have a lot of interesting features, which, in fact, differ from other representatives of the fauna living in the water.
Scientists have come to the conclusion that back in the past, the ancestors of sharks and rays differed little in body structure. But still, millions of years have made these animals unlike each other.
Skat: what species does
Rays belong to the superorder of elasmobranch cartilaginous fishes, which include five orders and fifteen families. The modern stingray fish (this can be clearly seen in the photo of the animal) is characterized by an incredibly flat body and a head fused with pectoral fins, which gives this creature an interesting and, perhaps, fantastic look. The color of this animal depends mainly on its habitat:
- seawater;
- fresh waters.
Stingray body structure
The color of the upper body of stingrays can be light (sandy), multi-colored (with an interesting ornament), and also dark. Thanks to this coloration, they can easily disguise themselves, merging with the surrounding space and becomingvirtually invisible to other animals. As for the lower part of the body of these creatures, as a rule, it is light, almost white. On the inside of the slope are organs, mouth and nostrils, gills (five pairs). The tail of marine life has a thread-like shape.
The species of stingrays vary greatly in both size and behavior. The size of this species of animals ranges from a couple of centimeters to several meters. The wingspan can reach more than two meters (for example, rays from the eagle family). Electric stingrays have their own important feature in the form of weapons. They paralyze the victim with the help of electrical discharges, which are produced by all types of rays, but in the amount of 220 volts, only electrical ones. This discharge is enough to not only paralyze some parts of the human body, but also lead to death.
Squads
Most species of stingrays lead a benthic lifestyle and feed on mollusks and crayfish. Pelagic species feed on plankton and small fish. Let's see what units scientists distinguish:
- electric;
- Sawtooth;
- rays;
- tail-shaped.
Different types of stingrays can be found in many different places on our globe. They are found in Antarctica and in the Arctic Ocean. If you want to see a flying stingray with your own eyes, then go to the coast of Australia, there are more than enough of them. The most diverse types of stingrays, the photos of which are presented in this article, fully reveal the entirehistory of their existence and modern life.
Unique respiratory system
Floating carpets of the underwater world are stingray fish. The species of these animals are unique in nature, because they have a different respiratory system than other fish that breathe through gills. Air enters the body of stingrays through special sprinklers located on the back. These devices are protected by a special valve. If it happens that a foreign thing gets into them, the ramp leaves it by releasing a jet of water from the sprinklers.
The stingrays move like butterflies. They do not use their tails to move around like other fish do. They move with their fins.
Distinguishing Features
All stingrays differ from each other, firstly, in size. In nature, fish are only a couple of centimeters long, and stingrays, whose size reaches seven meters. In addition, the behavior of each species is completely different. Some of them do not mind jumping above the surface of the water, while others prefer to burrow into the sand and rest quietly.
Stingray fish is a predatory animal, the main food is the following marine life:
- salmon;
- sardines;
- capelin;
- octopuses;
- crabs.
Stingrays are so diverse that even in hunting, everyone uses different weapons - what nature has awarded him. The electric one, having caught up with the prey, clasps it with its fins and beats with an electric current, waiting for its death. And the prickly tail killsthe victim with the help of his tail, studded with thorns, which he plunges into the enemy. To eat mollusks and crustaceans, they resort to the help of protruding plates that replace their teeth, and they also grind their food with them. As for reproduction, some of the species are viviparous, while others lay their eggs in special natural capsules.
Stingrays: Species
- Bracken - from the family of large fish, lead a pelagic way of life. These large creatures swim freely on the high seas and in tropical regions. Eagle rays move with the help of wavy strokes of their wings - fins. Manta rays and mobuls filter plankton from the water.
- Stingrays have sharp spines all over their bodies. The tail of these fish secretes a poisonous secret, which can cause a fatal blow to them. The poison that penetrates the wound can cause tachycardia, vomiting, sharp pain and pressure drop, paralysis.
- Guitars look like sharks, but they have gills, which makes them a stingray. They use their tails for locomotion, much like sharks. They feed on small fish and shellfish. Victims are thrown from above, crushed to the ground and then eaten.
- Gnus is a family of electric rays, there are about 40 species. They are inactive, swim very slowly, as a rule, lie on the bottom, buried in the sand. If the prey swam close, one electrical discharge is enough to stun it, and then eat it. They also use electric shocks for defense.
- Narcinidae - slow bottom fish, produce no more than 37volt. They live in temperate latitudes, love closed sandy bays near coral reefs, river mouths.
- Sawfish include seven species of sawfish. In general appearance they resemble sharks, they live in tropical places. They feed on schooling fish. When they break into a flock of sardines, they beat the fish with a saw, like a saber, and after that they pick up prey from the bottom. It does not pose a danger to a person.
Characterization and uniqueness
How many species of stingrays are there on Earth? There are about 600 of them in total, but most of them live in s alt water: seas and oceans.
Consider those who live in fresh water:
- The sea devil is a large animal, weighing up to a couple of tons. It was he who inspired the sailors to compose the most incredible and terrible legends. Imagine for a second how a creature weighing 2 tons flies out of the water, and after a moment it goes back to the depths. Despite being the largest stingray, it lacks electrical power, spines, and teeth. And the elongated tail is also not armed with anything. Despite his name, he is good-natured and does not touch people at all.
- Electric slope is also called marble. Dangerous and scary fish, whose cells generate electricity of 220 volts. This type of fish has been known for a very long time, its size is 1.5 meters in length and 1 meter in width. It weighs from 25-30 kg, the upper part of the body is decorated with white and brown streaks, due to which its shades can change. A female electric stingray can give birth to up to 14 at a time.kids. If they are threatened by some kind of danger, she temporarily hides them in her mouth until the threat has passed. These fish have an incredible feature that can immobilize any fish.
- The spiny-tailed stingray got its name from its tail. His fish plunges into the next victim, and after the perfect pulls back. The stingray releases its weapon only when it hears danger. The diet includes mollusks, crustaceans, which he calmly grinds not with his teeth, but with platinum.
Unusual fish
When such an unusual and bright fish flies next to a person, it makes an indelible impression. On Earth, there are a wide variety of types of rays. Their names often reflect their way of life. Stingrays are real butterflies of the seas and oceans, which delight the eye with their unusual beauty.
