Why do some theme parks and diving places have stingray petting areas?? Aren't they poisonous??
2006-07-27 11:05:31 · 11 answers · asked by ashcatash 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Yes, they are dangerous, but they're also not aggressive, and they seem to enjoy the interaction with humans. At least I've seen some of them in aquaria, reaching out of the water with their fins (well, the part of the disc that's actually the pectoral fin) and touching people.
As others have said, the sting is a defensive weapon. Rays don't use it to attack other animals, or to get their prey, but only as a defense when they're in danger of being trampled upon. As they are benthonic (bottom-dwelling) animals, they lay on the bottom of the ocean (or rivers, in the case of the South American freshwater stingrays) and other animals may "step" on them.
That being said, the injuries from stingrays are indeed dangerous. The retroserrated sting is not only connected to venom-producing glandular cells, but also covered in mucus that's full of pathogenic (disease-producing) microorganisms. The injury is extremely painful and may develop local reactions such as inflammation, blistering, edema, as well as partial anesthesia or other nervous effects. Serious cases involve necrosis (death of tissue), drug-resistant infections, and long-lasting wounds.
Although the animals kept in aquaria are usually well-accustomed to interacting with humans and closely monitored, people should still be careful. The sting can be removed, but it will be replaced eventually, unless the whole tail of the animal is severed (that's a common practice, but it sounds quite cruel to me).
2006-07-27 12:49:27 · answer #1 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
No, they aren't dangerous in theme parks or the wild. In theme parks, such as Sea World, they remove the poison from their stingers. It is the poison that causes the pain, not the actual sting. And in the wild, a sting ray will only sting you if you step on it. They'll just peacefully swim right by you normally, just don't step on one. You can pet and interact with one in the wild even. How would you react if you were that small and stepped on by a human. To avoid stepping on one, shuffle your feet when you walk on the ocean floor.
2006-07-27 18:19:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The poison is contained in a modified fin bone on the back toward the base of the tail that normally lays flat. Rays are generally docile creatures, but when threatened or provoked (usually by stepping on one) they will extend this 'spike' making the possibility of contact more likely. As long as you are gentle around them and step cautiously, you should be ok. Also, don't pet them around the vicinity of the spike, just in case they're having a bad day.
2006-07-27 18:25:08 · answer #3 · answered by Sam N C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should give Calimecita ten points. Not only did she answer your question - as always with elasmobranch questions - wonderfully, she also has experience as a biologist working on skates (a very close cousin of the stingrays). She knows, what she is talking about...
2006-07-28 03:20:50 · answer #4 · answered by oputz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever checked out their giant cousin, the Manta Ray? If you stoke its belly it goes into seventh heaven, and may even quit swiming... a big gentle baby! No, the sticking tail is barbed & can cause a nasty 'sting' but that is ONLY a defense mechanism that it uses when it feels "besought upon" or genuinely threatened... they will never attack you unprovoked.
2006-07-27 18:20:20 · answer #5 · answered by cherodman4u 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
only if you step on one... they are usually docile in nature and the stinging barb is a defense mechanism if they are being attacked. The ones you see in the parks has they stinging barb surgically removed so they pose no harm to people.
2006-07-27 18:34:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you step on them. It's not a concious thought. Their spines are made to whip the tail forward if pressure is forced down on their backs. Otherwise it's fun to feed them.
2006-07-27 18:09:20 · answer #7 · answered by Paleo C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not all of them are.... have you tasted stingray meat? i tried some in Malaysia, it was delicious... they[re not poisonous... if not we wouldn't be able to eat them...
2006-07-27 18:09:28 · answer #8 · answered by Peter McKoy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can electrucute you. But most wont. And the amount of electricity they can hit you with isn't serious.
2006-07-27 18:33:53 · answer #9 · answered by Darth Futuza 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand their actually quite gentle unless provoked.
2006-07-27 18:09:38 · answer #10 · answered by luckyaz128 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋