Stingrays are easily identified by their flat, disc-shaped bodies and long tail with venomous spine that keeps them safe from predators says Melissa Hobson.
They became infamous in 2006 when TV presenter Steve Irwin died from a stingray barb to the heart but these animals are not aggressive and usually only sting humans when they feel threatened – for example, when they’ve been trodden on.
What are stingrays?
Although they look more like a swimming pancake, stingrays are a type of fish. Closely related to sharks, they have flattened bodies, cartilage instead of bone, and a venomous spine on their tail that can inflict a painful sting.
Not all rays are stingrays. Manta rays and devil rays don’t have stingers and are totally harmless to humans.
What do stingrays look like?
Stingrays are sometimes jokingly known as a ‘sea pancake’ because of their round, flat bodies. They are also recognisable thanks to their long tail which is where they hide their venomous stinger.
Some species have distinctive markings: blue-spotted stingrays (Taeniura lymma) have vivid cobalt polka dots on their bodies while tiger stingrays (Potamotrygon tigrine) have pretty orange and black patterns. Others have a unique shape, like cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) which have a rounded snout like a cow’s nose – hence the name.
How big are stingrays?
The biggest species in the ocean is the smalleye stingray, which grows to three metres long (that’s longer than a king-sized bed) but has tiny eyes the size of raisins. When this gigantic animal feels like it’s under threat, it can swing its stinger over its head like a scorpion.
The largest freshwater stingray is also the biggest recorded freshwater fish: the giant freshwater stingray (Urogymnus polylepis). One specimen was caught in the Mekong River in 2022 measuring a whopping 3.98 metres (including her tail) and weighing 300 kilograms – around the same as a male Amur tiger.
What do stingrays eat?
Stingrays typically eat crustaceans, such as shrimp and crabs, and molluscs, like oysters and mussels. Their strong jaws are perfectly designed for crunching through these animals’ tough shells.
How do stingrays hunt?
Like sharks, stingrays have electrical sensors called ampullae of Lorenzini along their bodies which help them detect prey hidden in the sand. Once they’ve found their target, they swim over the top of it – their mouths are located on the underside of their bodies – and suck. Like a vacuum cleaner, this suction allows them to hoover up their meal straight into their hungry mouths. They also have strong jaws that can easily crush hard shelled molluscs and crustaceans.
Where do stingrays live?
These flattened fish live in warm, tropical waters around the world. They prefer shallow waters and can often be found buried just under the sand where they hide from predators and wait for unsuspecting prey.
Some types of stingrays undertake long migrations. By studying scuba divers’ photos of rare smalleye stingrays (Megatrygon microps), researchers discovered that these giant rays also have giant migrations. Some rays travelled hundreds of kilometres along the Mozambican coastline and one female was pregnant when she left for her 400km round trip but not when she returned – had she gone on this long journey to find the perfect place to drop her pup?
But stingrays aren’t just found in the ocean – some species live in freshwater habitats, like river basins. The Amazon River and Mekong River are both known for being home to freshwater stingrays.
How do stingrays reproduce?
Stingrays reproduce sexually and are ovoviviparous, which means that fertilised eggs develop inside the female and she gives live birth. During mating, the male bites the female’s back to hold on. The pregnant female has a gestation period of several months – the exact time depends on the species – and gives birth to live young. Skates, on the other hand, lay eggs known as ‘mermaid’s purses’.
How many babies the mum has depends on the species. Smalleye stingrays are believed to give birth to just one baby while short-tail stingrays can have up to 10 pups in one litter.
Some suggest that, like some sharks, stingrays might have the ability to reproduce asexually but this hasn’t yet been documented. In February 2024, an aquarium in North Carolina, U.S.A., announced that a stingray called Charlotte had become pregnant despite having no contact with male rays for eight years. Scientists suggested that she became pregnant through parthenogenesis (asexual reproduction) but it was later announced that the female ray had a reproductive disease and was not pregnant.
How dangerous are stingrays?
When thinking about stingrays, most people’s minds immediately jump to the tragic death of TV personality Steve Irwin who was killed by a stingray in Australia in September 2006. And although a sting from one of these animals can be fatal, this is very uncommon. Irwin’s death was a freak accident – the stingray’s barb pierced his heart, causing cardiac arrest.
Despite this famous incident, stingrays are often shy and docile. At the base of their tail is a venomous barb but they only use this for self-defence. If the ray feels like you’re a threat, it might whip up its tail and deliver a sting.
This is excruciatingly painful and can also cause swelling, cramping, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. Although fatality is very rare, if you believe you’ve been stung, seek medical help straight away.
Stingrays often hide under the sand in shallow, coastal waters. Incidents tend to occur when someone is wading in the shallows and accidentally treads on a ray. To stay safe in waters where these animals might be hiding, do the ‘stingray shuffle’: move along the sand by shuffling your feet along like you are ice skating. Because you’re not lifting your feet up, you won’t accidentally step on a ray. Plus, the stingrays will hear the noise of you disturbing the sand and move out of the way before you arrive.
Are they under threat?
Like many other animals in the ocean, stingrays are feeling the pressure from human activities including overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss.
Smooth stingrays (Fontitrygon garouaensis) are critically endangered while Mekong Stingrays (Hemitrygon laosensis), Groovebelly stingrays (Dasyatis hypostigma), and Chinese stingrays (Hemitrygon sinensis) are all endangered species.
How long do stingrays live for?
Their average lifespan is 15 to 25 years in the wild