Question on stingray tails

[Dash]

Hi all, I havent been able to find this out on my own so maybe some of you guys can help.

Last year I had a truly amazing experience with a family of Eagle Rays, and one solo eagle ray in particular and Ive had a question about their tail ever since. (I should write about it some other time)

At the time I was snorkelling and knew very little about rays in general. I thought they were docile but wasnt sure. I know much more now than then and the recent news coverage of stingrays really disheartens me.

Anyway, an Eagle ray has a very long tail, often 2x or more in length that it's body width. Heres some good pics http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/seray/seray.html
Ive learned that like other rays the Eagle has spines and like many descriptions are said to be located near the base of the tail.

If the spines are near the base, what does the rest of tail do? Is the tip of the tail actually any danger? Does the tip constitute a "spine"? It seems to me that with these relatively short spines, you'd have to damn near be laying on this thing for it to reach you.

Thanks for your answers

 

[Mo2vation]

Hey Dash

The cartoon character, or the band?

---
Ken


Oh - and I have no idea about the ray...

 

[Don Wray]

or Elly Mae Clampett's boyfriend

 

[Dash]

or Elly Mae Clampett's boyfriend

Thats more like it. That Elly May, now she had a tail on her....

 

[Puffer Fish]

Having "spines" is not the same as having a poisen injection system.

The real stingrays use the saw edged teeth to inject their poison when the barb is pulled out (note: if one breaks off in you, do not remove). The pressure on the barbs causes them to bend up and push on the poison sack. Very nasty.

Hi all, I havent been able to find this out on my own so maybe some of you guys can help.

Last year I had a truly amazing experience with a family of Eagle Rays, and one solo eagle ray in particular and Ive had a question about their tail ever since. (I should write about it some other time)

At the time I was snorkelling and knew very little about rays in general. I thought they were docile but wasnt sure. I know much more now than then and the recent news coverage of stingrays really disheartens me.

Anyway, an Eagle ray has a very long tail, often 2x or more in length that it's body width. Heres some good pics http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/seray/seray.html
Ive learned that like other rays the Eagle has spines and like many descriptions are said to be located near the base of the tail.

If the spines are near the base, what does the rest of tail do? Is the tip of the tail actually any danger? Does the tip constitute a "spine"? It seems to me that with these relatively short spines, you'd have to damn near be laying on this thing for it to reach you.

Thanks for your answers

 

[herman]

Welcome to the board Dash.
Your correct, the spine is near the base of the tail. The tail itself is of no danger. I move small ones by the tail all the time, not while diving but when I catch them while fishing. With all respect to Steve I suspect he we very very close to the ray. I doubt you will find an aggressive one (unprovoked) but if you get on it's back it's going to react. The stingrays at the famous "Stingray City" are likely the same rays. If they were that dangerous we would have wounded or dead divers and snorkelers all the time and remember these rays are excited by food. Leave them alone, give them a few yards of space and we will all be fine.

 

[isurus]

the tip doesn't constitute a spine but I suspect it could a) give you a bit of a discouraging crack if flicked and b) perhaps increase the speed of the spine itself lower down the tail.

eagle ray spines are often found sticking out of the faces of mokorran which suggests their main use is as you say when something is very close. If you want to see horrific stingray spines check out some of the freshwater species: like a pool cue with nails sticking out of it.