The Spotted Eagle Ray is easily distinguished by their long, broad snout and rather friendly faces! Their plate-like mouths allow them to crush pray, meaning some of their favourite foods include crustaceans, molluscs and worms.
Growing to approximately 10ft wide, no two Eagle Rays have the same pattern as their dark blue upper bodies are peppered in eye-catching white spots. They have very venomous barbs located on their long tails which are used against predators. Being stung by one of these will cause immense pain! Eagle Rays are beautiful creatures which tend to swim near the surface in large schools, and are often seen dancing with one another and leaping out of the water especially if they are being pursued by a predator.
This ray species is widespread, and can be found anywhere from the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic to the Indian Ocean and western Pacific.
It can be quite difficult to differentiate between a Reef Manta and a Devil Ray, and they are often mistaken for one another due to being so similar in shape, color and size. Their heads are narrow, and their cephalic fins, or horns, point forward rather than curling around the mouth like a Manta Rays do. Although their name may sound threatening, the Devil Ray is a shy creature, feeding mostly on plankton and krill.
Despite the fact that there are many different types of ray, the Blue Spotted Sting Ray is commonly collected for aquariums, due to their attractive colors. In the wild, this type of ray is particularly shy around humans, and will often swim away quickly in the presence of snorkelers and divers. The mouth and gills of the Blue Spotted Sting Ray are found on its underside, but when feeding in sandy areas, it will use the extra spiracles next to its eyes to breath.
This type of ray fish feed on molluscs, crustaceans and small fish which are found on coral reefs, by hiding in crevices and waiting to attack. The Pelagic Stingray may look like your average bottom-dwelling ray fish, but this type of ray will not be not found undulating on the seabed. Unlike some other types of stingrays, the Pelagic glides through the water, with a similar technique to a Manta or Eagle Ray.
This particular type of ray fish has a very distinctive wedge-shaped disc, which is either a deep purple or dark blue color. They have particularly small eyes, meaning they spend the vast majority of their time at around ft, where the ocean is at its brightest. Pelagic Stingrays feed mostly on krill, but are also known to eat jellyfish, squid and small fish. By using their pectoral fins, Pelagic Stingrays are able to direct prey right into their mouths by using their sharp, pointed teeth.
If you love stingrays, then be sure to check out our elegantly detailed stingray cuffs. There are many different types of ray, but there is one ray in particular which is capable of producing an electric shock! Two kidney-shaped electric organs located on its back, can produce between 8 to volts of electricity. Both species of Manta ray are cartilaginous, and have large triangular pectoral fins, and possess large horn-shaped cephalic fins, with mouths that are located on the forward-facing side of their bodies.
The large cephalic fins form a funnel-like structure which aids in feeding. While Manta rays are swimming, these fins are rolled into a spiral. Manta rays are found predominantly in tropical saltwater locations, although can also be found infrequently in subtropical and warm temperate salt waters. Both Manta species are pelagic, however alfredi tends to be a resident to coastal waters, while M. Both species are also filter feeders, where they swallow large quantities of water in their mouths as they swim, ingesting large amounts of zooplankton, which are later filtered out from the water by their gill rakers.
The gestation period in Mantas lasts for over a year, and they give birth to live pups. Mantas often visit cleaning stations, where they seek the aid of cleaner fish to remove parasites.
Similar to whale behavior, they breach, however the reasons for this behavior is unknown. This vulnerable status has come from a variety of anthropogenic threats including fishing net entanglement, pollution and hunting for harvesting their gill rakers as a use in traditional Chinese medicine. Their slow reproduction rates exacerbate these threats. They have a protected status in international waters, from the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals CMS , however they are far more vulnerable, the nearer to shore they are.
What is a Stingray? Stingrays are small rays that are cartilaginous fish, which are more closely related to sharks. They belong to the suborder Myliobatoidei , of the order Myliobatiformes and consist of eight different families: Plesiobatidae deepwater stingrays , Urotrygonidae round rays , Hexatrygonidae sixgill stingray , Urolophidae stingarees , Dasyatidae whiptail stingrays , Gymnuridae butterfly rays , Potamotrygonidae river stingrays , and Myliobatidae eagle rays. The majority of stingrays have one or more stingers that are barbed these are modified from dermal denticles on their tails.
These are exclusively used in self-defense. The entire stinger is covered in a thin skin layer, which is called the integumentary sheath.
This is where the venom is concentrated. Some members of the suborder Myliobatoidei do not have stingers, such as the Manta rays and porcupine rays. Did you string it up like a hammock? How does everyone feel about that? Tight Lines! But it is very portable and saves a lot of space. Yes it is strung up like a hammock. My plan for when I do hook up is to have two people ready with each rope whereas I can be one of them.
I just guide the monster into the net kinda like a trout cradle net. Then bring both of the ropes together to haul the fish up. It just hangs off the side. I Leave The Stingers On. But others like to carve out stingers for their collection and the stingers will grow back.
Pretty obvious, in my opinion, where the sharp end is; you just have to avoid it. A good landing net is preferable. A crab ring is best for piers. The less damage you do to these creatures, the better. I will hold its tail while you remove the hook. The problem I have is when lifting the dog gone beasts up over the railing is when it gets a little scary.
I have been hit twice that way but never while removing hooks. It does hurt like hell. I am allergic to bees and have to carry an Epi Kit with me but the Bat Ray sting has never caused me to go into shock. Heck, you were willing to grab hold of those scorpionfish even though they were new to you. Discretion sometimes trumps courage.
The other night I caught a Bat Ray that no longer had its stinger. I guess the question to ask is why somebody would decide to catch the ray, cut off its stinger, then throw it back? Does the stinger have some sort of use for humans of which I am not aware, or was this just a pointless act of cruelty? Some people like to keep stingers as trophies. Even so, and this is my personal taste, I would prefer not to release anything shorn of its natural defenses. Agree with Slinger on sending the ray back without its means of defense.
The folks at the aquarium say that it causes no pain to the rays when they cut the stinger and they do grow back. I always keep the stingers. Have a pretty good collection going too. If you grab it at the base with a pair of needlenose pliers and lean it backwards they pop right off. NO sweat. Only a couple second operation. NO real harm to the ray. I count them as trophies and put them on my weird fish stuff shelf. Always a nice addition. I suppose you could make earrings out of them.
Interesting…thanks for the info. It is supposed to be like clipping a fingernail, they are designed to break off, but it does leave the ray defenseless.
If it bleeds, infection can set and kill the ray! Really no reason to cut the stinger. Has anybody on this board ever been stung by a ray???? Like being stuck by a catfish, it was probably the not the rays or catfishes fault.
I have never cut them before, has anyone had them bleed from cutting them? However the size of the are of possible infection would be about the same size as the hole left by the hook.
The material of the stinger is made of Keratin, the same material as your fingernail. Even then, keep your wits about you and safely return the ray to the water. The way I do it only takes a sec. Just pops right off. Grab it near the base and bend it backwards. No harm done. The Monterey Bay Aquarium told me they grow back.
Yep… Last year while surf fishing. I have lived through some pretty painful stuff like my top lip being ripped in half-motorcycle accident and I must say that the ray sting is at the top of the PAIN list. I was doing Lamaz breathing on the way to the hospital. It does leave the ray defenseless until it grows back if you cut it off correctly.
It was similar to getting a splinter. Now I have never gotten stung by a bat ray but from what others have described that have been stung it sounds far worse than any catfish cut. I always just flip them on their backs, pop the hook out, and scoot them back into the water to fight another day.
In the past…I have recommended cutting off the stingers not the tail if anglers were concerned about handling the rays for fear of getting stuck. I would much rather have the stinger cut off and see anglers handle the ray in a gentle manner than having it knocked around.
However, I believe experienced anglers should be able to handle the rays safely without needing to cut the stinger off. As for harm to the fish, I have been told by several people who should know that there is no harm to the rays.
The stingers are routinely cut off of the bat rays at the petting ponds at several aquariums. They grow back in about a month and are then cut off again. Sort of like cutting your hair. That way these creatures can be petted by our youngsters with little concern as to danger. The petting ponds are great , especially at MBA. Posted by Red F ish.
Monterey Bay Aquarium. I think that visiting an aquarium should be a requirement for all novice saltwater anglers along with study regs prior to a license issue. I think it would avoid a great deal of the nonsense killing of sharks and rays by the uninformed.
So true. And a visit to the kelp forest exhibit is worth the price of admission. That tidal tank with the kelp forest rises and falls due to a pump that resembles an oil well pump. Very cool stuff at Monterey. Maybe we should do a PFIC outing there.
Survival of the fittest right? Cut dudes hands off at the wrist and watch him get into a brawl…. Sorry just rambling, I hate to hear of people being cruel to animals because of boredom!
Another source of damage… is getting cut up during the fight through entanglement. I used to fish braid for bat rays up through mid summer this year. But I started noticing the bright red lines where the braid had tangled with the ray and damaged the outside skin.
In fact, some cuts were quite deep, and that really puts the ray at risk of infection or parasites. Of course, mono is also cheaper. Thanks for the tip!
Any kind of sting… you want to pour hot water hotter the better on it. This will break up the toxins and ease the pain. Breaking down the toxins will also lessen the chances of any delayed effects of it. And that works! I know first hand-I got whacked by a stingray just a month or two ago, followed your instructions and the pain was gone in about an hour…. On the Gulf Coast, the treatment I have know my entire life for jellyfish stings is rubbing dry meat tenderizer on the affected area.
It always worked pretty well when I tried it. Has anyone else heard of this method, and if so, would it work on the sting of a ray?
From what I have read the poison in stingrays is protein based, so the hot water actually cooks the poison, and neutralizes it. As for urine, I was under the impression that it was the ammonia in Urine that made it effective, anybody have anything on this? A Shovelnose Skate? Do they have teeth or would you recommend sticking your fingers into its mouth to hoist them up to get them over the railing?
Any help would be a great education for me… Thanks in advance!! Mike RaidersFan1. I have read that they can crush mussels, clams, and other mollusks so use the hand hold at your own risk.
But both ways can cause lacerations, especially on the big rays. The stuff is really viscous and it stinks. Technique is pretty easy. With palm facing up, just reach down under and slip your hand into the mouth and curl your fingers up.
You should feel the tips of your fingers curl in and stop against the roof of the mouth. Wow what a picture! I think that I will use that hold on them, it seems more natural, and less harmful to their bodies than any other hold.
By the mouth is the only effective way to pick up big rays with one hand since their nostrils are too far apart. Watch out for your hook though! I did that with a 4-footer once and got the chomping of a lifetime. No teeth, just sandpaper-like cartilage for lips. Another difference: A stingray's mouth is found on the underside of its body, while the mouth of the manta ray is located along the front edge.
If it all sounds confusing, don't worry. Once you become more familiar with these two sea creatures, it can be easy to spot the difference. To help, here are seven fun facts that will help you tell the two apart, as well as give you additional insight into both species. In fact, the smallest is the short-nose electric ray, which grow to just shy of 4 inches 10 centimeters across.
Manta rays are filter feeders, meaning they consume plankton like fish eggs, krill and other tiny floating animals, while stingrays prey on fish, gastropods, crustaceans and other small animals. Most stingrays use flat teeth to crush the hard shells of animals such as crabs and clams, adds McCombs. Manta rays, however, use their cephalic lobes to direct small food items into their mouths. They live in the open ocean and don't spend time resting on the seafloor," she says.
Manta rays use the same sense to help them find plankton suspended in the water column. Manta rays also frequent cleaning stations, where they hover silently above a reef and allow smaller cleaner fish to remove parasites from their body. They use their large size and speed as their form of defense — they are able to quickly flee from any potential predators, although they have few natural predators. What should you do if you still happen to get stung by one? Recent studies of manta rays have even suggested that they may possess self-awareness.
When swimming past a mirror, their method of interacting with the mirror suggests that they realize they are seeing themselves, and not another manta ray.
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