Stingray Tail Carries Weapon

Poison Barb of Bull Ray Killed Steve Irwin

Aug 1, 2008 John Blatchford

When threatened, if there is no room to escape, Stingrays lash out with their tails.

There are about seventy species of Stingray, some live in fresh water or estuaries, but the majority are marine. Steve Irwin, famously known as "The Crocodile Hunter", was killed by one in 2006. He was swimming on Australia's Great Barrier Reef and seems to have got directly above the fish.

Stingray’s Poison Barb

All Stingrays have a sharp spine on the tail, with venom-secreting glands built in. These spines can be over a foot long in some species, and when the tail is lashed upwards it can inflict serious injuries. Stings are not normally fatal in humans, but medical attention is required since nasty toxins are injected and the spine often breaks off leaving bits remaining in the wound. Steve Irwin’s was a freak accident, the startled Stingray struck out and the spine pierced Steve’s heart.

Tame Stingrays

Several places around the world have resident populations of Stingrays that have become used to humans. There are places in the Cayman Islands, for example, where divers can swim safely with Southern Stingrays (Dasyatis americana) and even feed them by hand. These locations are often referred to as ‘Stingray Cities’. These are popular tourist attractions since there are usually pleasant beaches and interesting coral reefs nearby.

Bottom Feeders

Stingrays lie on the sea bed, often partially or wholly covered with sand. Their eyes poke out of concealment to let them see what is above them, and their upwardly facing ‘spiracles’ (breathing holes) allow them to pump water over their gills while buried. In this position they root around in the sand, locating prey with their electrical sense and sense of smell, feeding on anything they find – largely crabs and bivalve molluscs.

Stingrays as Food and Pests

Line and spear-fishing are used to catch Stingrays, and their ‘wings’ and ‘cheeks’ are considered delicacies in many parts of the world. In Malaysia they are often barbecued and then served with spicy sauce, and in Iceland they are eaten pickled around Christmas. Where they are not caught as food, or used to provide a tourist attraction, Stingrays are often killed because of the damage they can do to shellfish populations.

The Short-tail Stingray

Dasyatis brevicaudata, also sometimes known as the ‘Bull Ray’ is the largest Stingray in the world, measuring up to 6 feet across and 14 feet long. It might have been one of these that killed Steve Irwin, but they do not normally live as far north as the place he was killed (near Port Douglas).

The copyright of the article Stingray Tail Carries Weapon in Marine Biology & Oceanography is owned by John Blatchford. Permission to republish Stingray Tail Carries Weapon in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Sting Ray