Rays - how dangerous?

[Geoff_H]

Here is the background for my question - I was diving in Truk lagoon and saw quite a few eagle and marble rays. One dive I spotted a marble ray cruising and dropped down over the side of the wreck to get a bit closer and take a photo.

Normally, I have found rays are shy and swim away - however this one was very curious and circled me, swam right alongside me and passed underneath me a couple of times.

Now, I've read about Steve Irwin and I was a bit nervous - when I recounted this story on the boat a lady told me that rays can only deploy their stings (if they have them) when they're sitting in the sand. They simply can't hurt you when they're gliding along in the ocean.

Does anyone know if this is true? This is the beast in question, to be honest I don't even know if it has a sting in it's tail or not bu it does look like it has and better safe than sorry.

 

[MeiLing]

It probably does have a stinger and could probably deploy it anytime it wanted, but I still wouldn't worry about it. The Steve Irwin thing was kind of a fluke. First of all, he was swimming right over them in rather shallow water which pretty much is the definition of antagonizing them. Secondly, he got nailed right in the heart. If he hadn't got hit right in the heart, he'd have likely survived it.

I wouldn't be concerned, but I would also give them their space. Remember the old adage, the drive to and from the dive site or boat landing is usually the most dangerous part of the entire outing!

 

[archman]

The barb on a stingray is a strictly defensive structure. It cannot be manipulated by the ray in an offensive manner. You'd have to impale yourself on a swimming ray.

 

[Geoff_H]

I know it's used for defense, the ray doesn't go around hunting with it

But can it be deployed if the ray is swimming around and gets scared at a diver hovering over him?

 

[drbill]

I've dived with rays of several species for decades without incident. They usually flee when I get close, or continue their behaviour as if I'm irrelevant. Of course there are incidents where rays have stung people, but this usually only happens when a bather (or diver) steps on them while they are buried in the sand. I do not remember hearing of one deploying the sting while swimming, although there have been fishermen stung by them as they brought them into their boat.

Not to take your concern lightly, but for those who are concerned about this, I intend to invent a new kind of backplate and wing that includes a chest plate for protection from such possibilities.

 

[DennisW]

Rays can be very curious. Southern Stingrays near the United Carribean and Sea Emporer off Ft. Lauderdale will come right up to you. I think they do this because some operators used to feed them. I've never been concerned about getting injured by one and some of them are quite large.

 

[Hank49]

I've startled them while they're hiding in the sand. I would guess that would be the most dangerous situation. It might spook then and whip its tail.

 

[herman]

I've startled them while they're hiding in the sand. I would guess that would be the most dangerous situation. It might spook then and whip its tail.

Big misconception here. The "stinger" is at the base of the tail, not the free end. There is really no way for the ray to "sting" you with the free end of the tail, worst he can do is to hit you with the tail, no big deal. The stinger is basically fixed pointing to the rear. The ray can raise it somewhat but not much. You have to be moving tward the ray from the rear and decending onto it before the stinger becomes a threat, best as I know rays don't swim backwards.....don't try to ride it and you will be fine.

 

[archman]

Big misconception here. The "stinger" is at the base of the tail, not the free end. There is really no way for the ray to "sting" you with the free end of the tail, worst he can do is to hit you with the tail, no big deal. The stinger is basically fixed pointing to the rear. The ray can raise it somewhat but not much. You have to be moving tward the ray from the rear and decending onto it before the stinger becomes a threat, best as I know rays don't swim backwards.....don't try to ride it and you will be fine.

Spine placement is variable by group. Many "stingrays" have their spine(s) fairly far down the tail. You're probably confusing stingrays with eagles or cownoses... both of these Families tend to have the basal spines. Members of the Urolophidae stingray group can have their spines WAY down near the end of the tail. Dasyatid spines aren't typically as far down.

Stingrays tend to have spines further down their tail for the very purpose of directing the spine forward. When a stingray is stepped on, it will flick its tail violently to the side or upwards. The spine freely articulates; the ray will elevate it from its resting (posterior-directing) position to one perpendicular to the tail axis. The tail muscles flick THAT towards the front. They rarely miss.

A stingray requires external leverage pressing down on its body disk in order to direct its spine forward without flipping **** over teakettle. Thus, the spine cannot be used offensively.

 

[nauifins73]

Of course there are incidents where rays have stung people, but this usually only happens when a bather (or diver) steps on them while they are buried in the sand.

This is why I teach my SCUBA Rangers the "stingray shuffle". Unfortunately we don't have many in our area but if they get a chance to go to the Ocean they know about them and how to protect themselves and the rays.