Page 316 - Hawaii: Diving, Surfing, Pearl Harbor, Volcanoes and More

tingray - Most stingrays have one or more barbed stingers and their mouths on the undersides, stingrays cannot see their
S (modified from dermal denticles) on the tail, which are used prey; instead, they use smell and electroreceptors (ampullae of
exclusively in self-defense. The stinger may reach a length of ap- Lorenzini) similar to those of sharks. Stingrays feed primarily on
proximately 35 cm (14 in), and its underside has two grooves with molluscs, crustaceans, and occasionally on small fish. Some sting-
venom glands. The stinger is covered with a thin layer of skin, rays’ mouths contain two powerful, shell-crushing plates, while
the integumentary sheath, in which the venom is concentrated. other species only have sucking mouthparts. Stingrays settle on
A few members of the suborder, such as the manta rays and the the bottom while feeding, often leaving only their eyes and tail
porcupine ray, do not have stingers. Stingrays are common in visible. Coral reefs are favorite feeding grounds and are usually
coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters throughout the shared with sharks during high tide. Stingrays are usually very doc-
world. The conservation status is more problematic, leading to ile and curious, their usual reaction being to flee any disturbance,
them being listed as vulnerable or endangered by IUCN. and also but they will sometimes brush their fins past any new object they
includes species found in warmer temperate oceans. The flattened encounter. Nevertheless, certain larger species may be more ag-
bodies of stingrays allow them to effectively conceal themselves gressive and should be approached with caution, as the stingray’s
in their environment. Stingrays do this by agitating the sand and defensive reflex (use of its poisoned stinger) may result in serious
hiding beneath it. Because their eyes are on top of their bodies injury or death.