Stingrays Are Smooth! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Flapping

There are actually two ways in which different species of stingrays propel themselves through the water. While some move their entire body in a wave-like motion, others flap their sides (wings) up and down in a motion that is similar to birds. Speaking of their wings - did you know that in many places the stingray is considered to be a delicacy? The most favored parts for eating come from the area around the wings, the area around the eyes, or the liver.

Answer: It is on the underside of its body.

As you can imagine, having its mouth so far away from its eyes, makes it very difficult for a stingray to look for food and eat at the same time. Around its mouth there are sensors called ampullae of Lorenzini that help the stingray to pick up electric signals given out by its quarry.

These sensors make up for the eyes being so far away from the mouth. By the way, the spiracles of a stingray are located behind the eyes. They are used to bring water into the gill chambers.

Answer: False

Actually, the stingray is a cartilaginous animal. Even though stingrays have existed on earth for approximately 150 million years, it is a very rare occurrence to find a fossil other than scales or teeth. Cartilage decays so quickly after an organism dies that there is not much hope of fossilization.

There are many different species of rays, over 600 altogether, and all have a cartilage skeleton.

Answer: No

Stingrays are not typically aggressive unless they feel threatened. In fact, most sources agree that, especially for the smaller species, they tend to run away in the face of danger. They do not like for a diver to swim over them or in front of them, blocking their path. In addition, a person who steps on a stingray has a pretty good chance of being stung.

Answer: Fish

Believe it or not, stingrays are fish, and are closely related to sharks! They belong to the phylum Chordata and the class Chondrichthyes; there are about 220 species of stingrays. Easily recognized because of their flat body, stingrays live in both fresh and saltwater, and can grow to measure 14 feet long and weigh up to 600-800 pounds.

Answer: Tail

Apparently it really hurts to be stung by a stingray! The venom, however, is not usually deadly unless the victim is stung in the chest or abdomen. Ancient Greek dentists used it as an anesthetic for their patients.

Answer: Fever

Overall, it appears that many species of stingrays are loners and only congregate for breeding and migrating. Preferring to live in warm water, if the weather becomes cooler, stingrays will migrate into deeper water. There have been accounts of large groups, or fevers, of stingrays swimming together. Tampa Bay and other locations in Florida are said to be a good place to watch stingrays from April to October.

Answer: Sharks

In addition to mussels, clams, and shrimp, the stingray will also eat the occasional small fish, oysters, or snails that come by. Stingrays have very powerful jaws with which to break open the shells. They are not at the top of the food chain. Much of their time is spent hiding from predators, such as large fish, sharks, seals, or sea lions.

Answer: They are born looking exactly like their parents - only smaller.

Baby stingrays, called pups, look exactly like their parents when they are born; shortly after birth they can swim and even hunt for their own food! The mother, who gives birth to 2-6 pups, will hover nearby until they are about three years old and protect them when necessary.

Answer: Shuffle your feet as you enter! They will startle and swim away.

Stingrays spend much of their time in the sand; the sand helps to camouflage them while they are waiting for their dinner or hiding from predators. Shuffling the feet will help to scatter stingrays. If you want to be doubly sure that they have left an area, toss a couple of stones in the water too!