20 Interesting Facts About Stingrays

1. Stingrays belong to sea rays (skates, electric rays, shovelnose rays, etc.). They are cartilaginous fish with a close relationship to sharks.
2. There are several types of stingrays. The most common ones are Deepwater stingrays, Round rays, Whiptail stingrays, Butterfly rays, Eagle rays, and Sixgill stingrays. These and other types of stingrays have unique features and separate habitats. (Source)
3. Stingrays are known for the presence of a stinger or barb (spinal blade) in their tails. There are between one and three spinal blades in stingrays. In contrast to other venomous animals that store venom in glands, stingrays store their venom within tissue cells on the underside of their spines. Freshwater stingrays have more toxic venom than venom in saltwater stingrays. Stingrays injure thousands of people every year, but most of these are non-fatal. Around 80% of their victims are men. (Source)
4. Apart from mammals, the ocellate river stingray is the only known animal that chews its food. It is also the only species of rays that consumes insects. (Source)
5. Stingray skin is exotic leather used to make wallets, small bags, watch straps, and wrapped bags. It is scratch-resistant and one of the most durable leathers.
6. Stingrays are common in shallow coastal waters in temperate seas around the world. They are also present in oceans and rivers.
7. There are more than 200 known species of stingrays in various families. Most of the species swim like a wave, while others flap their sides like wings.
8. The average lifespan for stingrays in the wild is from 15 to 25 years, according to species. They can live for 5 to 10 years in captivity.
9. According to fossil records, stingrays appeared on earth around 150 million years ago. They are among animals that survived the mass extinction event that eradicated dinosaurs 65 million years ago. 
10. Ancient Greek dentists are known for using venom from stingrays’ spines as an anesthetic during dentistry work.
11. Stingrays are carnivorous animals that usually live on the ocean floor and camouflage by using ocean sand. Their diet also contains animals that live on or beneath ocean sand, including oysters, shrimp, worms, clams, and snails. They capture prey through electric signals received by their complex sensory system. Stingrays’ jaws are extremely strong and can easily crush the hard shells of their prey. (Source)
12. Seals, sea lions, sharks, and other large fish are natural predators of stingrays. These fish defend themselves through camouflage and by using their venomous stinger. 
13. Stingrays are one of few animals that use spiracles, opening behind eyes, to breathe. Stingrays occasionally use spiracles as their primary method of breathing. (Source)
14. Stingrays are usually not aggressive to humans and only use their stinger for defensive purposes. They usually sting when a person steps on them. Stingray venom can cause edema, severe pain, ulceration, delayed wound healing, local necrosis, etc. Famous Australian wildlife expert, Steve Irwin, was one of few people killed by stingrays. (Source) 

    

    Stingrays camouflage by covering themselves with sand
    
    

15. Stingrays use camouflage to hide from predators and prey. Their body color is similar to the color of the sand where they live. These animals also hide by covering themselves with sand. (Source)
16. The giant freshwater stingray is one of the biggest freshwater fish on earth. The heaviest stingray ever caught has more than 800 pounds of weight. (Source)
17. In many countries, people like to eat stingrays. It is considered a delicacy in countries like Iceland, Malaysia, and Singapore.
18. Stingrays are primarily solitary but sometimes they swim in pairs or groups. A single group is called “a fever.” 
19. Stingrays’ jaws effectively support their teeth to crush hard shells and materials. It is because the surface of these jaws has a covering of minor calcium minerals called tesserae. (Source)
20. Like sharks, stingrays can also replace their teeth lost during adulthood. These are very similar to human teeth.