Dangers and Beauty of the Great Barrier Reef: the Stingray

The Great Barrier Reef is a great place to visit or take a vacation. Even though it is spectacular and beautiful, there are dangers lurking under the inviting blue waters. Some of the sea life can be unforgiving if you are not careful. One of these creatures is the Stingray, which go by other names but we will get to that later.
So hang on, here we go!

First of all let's get into some stats on the stingray; they are carnivores, their lifespan in the wild is fifteen to twenty-five years. Their size full grown is up to two meters (6.5 feet long) and the weight of one who is full grown is up to 350 kg (790 pounds).

The Australian bull ray can reach a weight of about 220 pounds (100 kg). They can be up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide and 8 feet (2.4 meters) long. Famed Steve Irwin was killed by a bull ray, when it stabbed him directly in his heart!

There are about 200 species of stingrays, here are a few:

Giant stingarees- (family Plesiobatidae)

Sixgill stingrays- (family Hexatrygoniadae)

Stingarees- (family Urolophidae)

River stingrays- (family Potamotrygonidae)

Whiptail stingrays- (family Dasyatidae)

Butterfly rays- (family Gymnuridae)

Eagle rays- (family Myliobatidae)

Devil rays- (family Mobulidae)

Stingrays live in tropical or warm areas and as the climate gets cooler they move to warmer waters. They are surprisingly not aggressive! They spend time rummaging at the bottom of the sea and they dig in and bury themselves in the sand. They have coloration that blends in with the seafloor, hiding the ray from its predators; larger stingrays or sharks.

Stingrays eat small fish, worms, mollusks, or other small creatures.

Their bodies are flat and are made up of pectoral fins attached to their heads and a trunk with its long tail trailing behind it (this is just one of the things about rays you must look out for). The stingray's spine, or barb, has serrated edges and a sharp point and the underside has venom, and can be fatal to humans. Their spines can remain toxic even after the stingray is dead.

While the stingray's eyes are located on its dorsal side, its mouth, nostrils and gill slits are found on its underbelly; therefore its eyes are not used in the role of hunting.

Like its shark relatives, the ray has electrical sensors called "ampullae of Lorenzini". These organs sense electrical charges of its prey.

Some rays have jaw teeth allowing them to crush their prey, such as clams, mussels and oysters.

They swim by moving their bodies like a wave; while others flap their sides like wings. They can also move their tail to maneuver in the water, but its primary used for protection.

Are all rays "sting" rays? No! Some stingrays such as the butterfly rays and devil rays do not possess stings.

When a stingray attacks it has to be facing its victim. To strike what ever is in front of it, all it does is flip its long tail upward and over its body. It only has control over its tail and not the stinging mechanism so when the tail enters the person's body the pressure causes its protective sheath to tear. Then the sharp, serrated edges of the spine sinks in and venom is injected into the wound.

The spines of the ray are capable of penetrating wetsuits and shoe leather and have been known to kill people when stabbed in the chest area.

People who are at risk of being a victim of a stingray attack are those wading in the water, and they are stabbed in the legs most often, careless fishermen and divers that may startle the stingray as they pass by.

A good prevention from being attacked is, don't shuffle your feet as you wade. Most attacks take place when you accidentally step on the ray and it brings up its tale and stings you.

Stingrays are docile creatures and only attack in self-defense.

A ray's venom is not always fatal, but it hurts immensely. It is composed of the enzymes 5-nucleosidase and phosphodiesterase and the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin causes light to severe muscle contraction, and this causes the pain you experience. These enzymes cause tissue and cell death.

If this happens in the leg or ankle it can usually be treated. But if not treated immediately amputation might become necessary. If the venom enters the abdomen or chest area, this can be fatal because of all the vital organs in the area dying from tissue and cell death.

If you are stung by a ray wash the wounds quickly and thoroughly with sea water and remove the spines very carefully. But please get help medical attention immediately.

I hope I haven't scared you away from the wonderful Great Barrier Reef. As long as you take the tips given to you, there is no reason why you can not enjoy a marvelous trip and want to come back to this magical place soon. Have a great trip and be thinking about me ok? *Smile*.