For more details on how to properly handle a stingray sting, refer to this WebMD article: Stingray Injury Treatment. skin discoloration. The barbs are used to deter potential predators. To select a replacement, The maximum recorded weight for the species is 200. "I" wait until the mosquito has had his fill and then gently remove "myself" from his habitat after asking if there is anyone else thristy there. 2 Why did Where Did The Stingray Stab Steve Irwin? The earliest known records of round stingrays on Santa Catalina Island is 1970. The caudal "barb" or "spine" is actually a modified scale known as "dermal denticles" on sharks and rays. Sharks often eat the tail of rays when after them. Where should it be cut?? Mon 10 Mar 2014 15.29 EDT. The barbs grow back, so if they need to be released say for a hurricane back into open waters the barbs do grow back. What happens if you eat undercooked mahi mahi? WARNING: Sometimes stingrays have more than 1 barb. Visitors to the Great Barrier Reef marvel as they watch these animals glide over the sands and through the corals. The wound should be inspected for any retained spines. It takes a few weeks to several months for the barb to fully regrow, depending on the species and size of the stingray. Abundance within the first 30 m from shore is greater when conditions are calm (i.e. Stingrays do grow the barb back. Rays protect themselves with these stinging spines or barbs while skates rely on thorny projections on their backs and tails to for protection from predators. by mike Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:36 pm, Post Results showed that exposed rays experienced higher immune cell proliferation and significantly higher rates of phagocytosis in multiple tissues, both biomarkers of immune impairment. The city of Seal Beach, CA has historically implemented various strategies in order to help reduce the number of stingray related injuries. 11-Ketotestosterone (11-KT) concentrations followed a similar pattern but peak production occurred in February. They use their barbs as a defense mechanism, with the tip of their tails serving as their primary deterrent. The same female was then detected back at Seal Beach one year after initial tagging. How do you measure a fishing net? I was stung in the foot by an Atlantic cownose ray (the barb went right through my work boot), and I can confirm that it hurts a great deal! by Jolly Roger Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:37 pm, Post 2014 found that EROD activity is higher in adult males than females. Stingray barbs (or stingers) are made of a material that is similar to human fingernails. But what does the average person know about stingrays? Vaudo and Lowe 2006 found that round stingrays seasonally congregate for a few weeks at Seal Beach before dispersing to other locations in search of suitable breeding grounds. In places like California, stingray populations appear to be growing because there are fewer predators, like sharks, seals and sea lions, Lowe says. Stingrays will always choose to flee when they feel threatened. We recommend Feedly for RSS management. 4. The best tool to remove the tail & barb would be a chainsaw!!! Stingrays do grow the barb back. Not taken during a trim, but it gives an idea of size and location of a mid tail barb on an adult Southern stingray. They use their tails for defense against predators, like sharks, and will only flick their tails if they feel threatened or are disturbed in an aggressive way. Instead, clean the wound out, then submerge it in hot water. Unlike other rays, electric rays use their tails to swim, not their pectoral fins. When a stingray defends itself they whip their tail from side to side in an action called spining. The most common place to be stung by a stingray is on your feet. If the stingray loses one of its barbs while defending itself, it immediately begins to grow a new one. by HeathInClearLake Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:09 pm, Post Heather was pleased to learn that I was using their specimen for this project, and said our specimens have an unlimited number of uses even after their primary project!. Was fishing with a buddy at Cold pass a few weeks ago and he caught a string ray with the tail cut off. When the barb (or stinger) penetrates flesh, the venom is released into the body. Mature females in particular sexually segregate from males after mating and aggregate in calm, estuarine habitats which are subject to a high input of urban runoff following a storm which could explain observed differences in the proportion of contaminant groups tested. It was collected in Baja California, Mexico. A lifeguard can also provide more information about current conditions and wildlife to watch out for at their beach if you ask! They do not hunt prey larger than stingrays. While most stingrays are relatively widespread and not currently threatened, for several the conservation status is more problematic, leading to them being listed as vulnerable or endangered by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Pieces of the barb could break off, and stay inside your wound. 3. The one in the image above was one of the largest stingrays I have caught from shore. I only do that if Im keeping a stingray for shark bait. The major difference between rays and skates is in their reproductive strategies. But while touching a stingray might be neat for humans, such exhibits have been criticized by animal welfare advocates for allowing the animals to be "manhandled." New research involving nearly 60 stingrays at the aquarium indicates that the animals do not suffer from their interactions with humans. So, you should. This may take more than an hour of soaking, so be patient. Differences in concentration are likely due to shifts in energetic costs as mature round stingrays partition more energy towards reproduction and have less energy to direct towards detoxification processes. Rays are cartilaginous fishes just like sharks, skates, and chimaeras. I suppose after fishing for 35 years without incident my luck is about to run out, eh? The hook should rust out in short order. When a stingray pup is ready to be born, they are often a decent size and able to swim and get to grips with the ocean very quickly. The only person to witness the moment Steve Irwin was pierced in the chest by a stingray barb said the injuries were so severe that the Australian TV naturalist could . They have complex nervous systems and respond to injury in ways that indicate pain. Multiple paternity in elasmobranchs is relatively common and is due to competition that arises from sexual selection both among (intersexual) and within sexes (intrasexual). Is a stingray and a manta ray the same thing? Read More What Is Difference Between Stingray And Manta Ray? Does a stingray's barb grow back? So, it must not be considered too barbaric to remove it. The main symptom of a stingray sting is immediate severe pain. According to the National Capital Poison Control . Lets take care of it. Their bodies are flat and disk-like, and feature a long, whip-like tail that can grow 2 . Sperm production peaks in December and is stored long term until favorable mating conditions are present. Rays are actually more threatened as a group than sharks are! Additional findings were that round stingrays are slow growing relative to other species in the family Urolophidae. If untreated, this wound can lead to infection. The barb on a stingray's tail is only used for defence, and as they can take a long time to grow back, most species of stingray use the barb on their tail as a last resort or self-defence. In rare cases, a person who is stung might have trouble breathing or even die. What is the fastest way to flush out food poisoning? Lyons and Lowe 2013 found that female round stingrays transferred contaminants throughout pregnancy and that ova development and the delivery of histotrophic fluid to embryos were the two pathways that significantly contributed to offloaded contaminants in offspring. If possible, you should try to flip a stingray on to its back before attempting to remove the hook. The goals of her project are to estimate the Standard Metabolic Rate (SMR) and metabolic Q10 of round stingrays across a range of temperatures and predict the species-specific scaling exponent of metabolic rate for round stingrays. Additional findings were that populations of round stingrays in the eastern central Gulf of California are not isolated from populations on the Pacific coast of Baja California. However, stingrays do cause lots of injuries hundreds each year in the United States alone! All of a sudden the stingray propped on its front and started stabbing Irwin wildly with its tail. Lyons et al. How big was the stingray that killed Irwin? Stingrays are bottom-dwelling sea creatures who easily conceal themselves, mostly by hiding underneath sand. Astingray barb contains angled teeth, or barbs, that allows it to enter flesh quite easily. Deaths from stingray barbs, however, are rare. Your email address will not be published. Thats obviously not something you want to have happen, as it can cause infection. Stingray stings usually cause intense pain, nausea, weakness, and fainting. Best way to clean is submerge the barb in hot water. You really have to be careful. It takes a few months to six months. Some species have fairly weak venom, so most of the pain associated with being stung is from the wound itself. That means that their skeletons are made not out of bone, but out of cartilage (the bendy stuff thats in our ears and noses). Most stingray injuries are reported during the afternoon. There are thousands of visitors to southern California beaches each summer. "Barbs will regrow eventually, so this is a great way of not getting injured while not depriving the ray of a lifetime being defenceless against its natural predators, sharks and orca," she said. Some, like eagle rays, may have 5-6 stingers that are stacked on top of each other. Although they were able to get him back into the boat, he died by the time they got him to the medics. Are there stingrays without barbs? . From Hughes et al. Most important, stay out a stingray's striking zone, the area directly above the ray. Stingrays (ie, elasmobranchs) are bottom-dwelling cartilaginous fish that have a flattened body, one or more stout spines on the tail, gill slits on the lower surface of the head, teeth modified into 2 large crushing plates, and no dorsal fin. The mothers total contaminant load as measured by the liver was found to be the most influential factor in predicting embryonic contaminant load while size/age did not strongly influence contaminant loads. What happens if a stingray loses its barb? by blesker Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:54 pm, Post However, many fishermen also get stung when attempting to unhook rays that they have caught while fishing. Beachgoers are attracted to Seal Beach for a variety of aquatic activities including surfing, wading, swimming, and bodysurfing. The Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) gets its, Eating undercooked mahi mahi can put you at risk of, The fastest way to flush out food poisoning is to stay. Do the stingrays at Seaworld have stingers? Also, skates typically have a prominent dorsal fin while the dorsal fin is absent or greatly reduced in rays.Most rays are kite-shaped with whip-like tails possessing one or two stinging spines while skates have fleshier tails and lack spines. Their tails can reach up to 1 foot (30.5 centimeters) in length and an inch wide (2.5 centimeters). There are reports of stingers breaking off in wounds, but this may be rare. The stinger is the rays defense mechanism, and although it will grow back, I dont feel right about breaking it off. The doctor will be more able to remove the barb without causing excess tissue damage. yes, they do it is very safe and amazing! They are not aggressive toward humans; however, injuries from these animals are . Stingrays are an order in the same class as rays and skates, and are very distantly related to sharks. Although often limited to the injured area, the pain may spread rapidly, reaching its greatest intensity in < 90 minutes; in most cases, pain gradually diminishes over 6 to 48 hours but occasionally lasts days or weeks. Heres a picture of another specimen of the same species from this collection, you can see why theyre sometimes called Golden Cownose Rays. Graduate student Lorena Silva Garay is investigating the effects of size and temperature on the metabolic rate of round stingrays across its entire size range. by UofHYaker Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:10 pm, Post Females do not exhibit differences in tooth shape between juveniles and adult stages, but mature females have significantly larger teeth than juvenile females. LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA 90840562.985.4111. Summer Science Outreach Challenge: Write an OpEd. I think, as long as you exercise good common sense, and keep your hands away from the rear half of a stingray, you should be OK. While continuing to hold the tail and barb firmly, use your grasp of his tail to flip the stingray onto its back. Because of their large size, great hammerhead sharks are not preyed upon by other marine animals. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. ThePacific Cownose Rays Atlantic ocean cousin is a focus of some interesting ongoing conservation efforts. In female elasmobranchs, contaminants are transferred to developing embryos through the mobilization of hepatic (liver) lipids to the embryo through a variety of nutrient supplementing pathways depending upon reproductive mode. The barb on a stingrays tail is only used for defence, and as they can take a long time to grow back, most species of stingray use the barb on their tail as a last resort or self-defence. How often do stingrays shed their barb? Both have flattened body shapes and wide pectoral fins that are fused to the head. Juvenile males in particular showed a significant decrease in contaminant concentration as they increased in size until maturity. To avoid getting accidentally stung by a stingray, shuffle your feet through the sand to alert the buried ray that you are approaching and to give them the chance to skitter away (Lowe et al. 2018, showing the path of a stingray barb marked with a * as a simulated foot steps on the back of the ray. This study provides some of the first evidence of immunostimulation correlated with organochlorine contaminants in rays. Although some ray species do not have stingers there is a large portion of the group that have them. by Electric Water Boy Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:47 pm, Post Want to get your own model Pacific Cownose Ray barb? Therefore, the spine can easily be clipped without causing pain or injury to the ray (Lowe et al. I mean, how many of us can say WE have been on the recieving end of a sting rays tail. Hale and Lowe 2008 conducted a growth and age structure study of the round stingray (U. halleri) population at Seal Beach, CA. FACT: Unlike fishes, which lay eggs, stingrays are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young (Lyons and Lowe, 2013). Manta rays do not have the infamous barb found on their tails, while stingrays utilize the barb as a defense mechanism. Yes, stingray barbs do grow back. This schooling species is typically not valuable enough to keep, and a pain to release. FACT 2: Cownose rays have barbs that are not easy to get to. In 2006, while filming a documentary in Australias Great Barrier Reef, Irwin died after being pierced in the chest by a short-tail stingray. If you end up getting stung by a stingray, be prepared to respond quickly to minimize suffering. Therefore, the best defense against stingray related injuries is to remember to shuffle your feet and to educate beach visitors about the local wildlife they may come into close contact with during their visit. What is the best all rounder fishing rod. Barbs typically have venom, in addition to the sharp stinger. Human victims of a stingray puncture experience extreme pain which can result in swelling, muscle cramps, severed arteries, and possible bacterial infection. But, what do you do to prevent getting stung when unhooking a stingraythat youve caught? Manta rays are related to stingrays. Lyons et al. If you enjoy Southern Fried Science, consider contributing to, Two new writers, the net that never stops killing, how not to launch a boat, the Blackfish Effect, and more! by LXA393 Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:19 pm, Post Results showed that round stingray dentition is most influenced by age and sex. Native Habitat Freshwater stingray are native to South America. A certain place I fish down in SPI has several rays with missing tails or barbs. It takes a few months to six months. The venom on the stinger is produced by a venom gland in the skin of the tail. When in doubt, just cut the leader as close to the hook as possible. The water should be approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Manta rays are cold-blooded fish with flat diamond-shaped bodies. If it's harmless, and you're not going to eat it, let it live (gars/hardheads). This information was used in conjunction with size-frequency data from periodic sampling conducted at Seal Beach to determine age structure of the local round stingray population. One of our goals in studying round stingrays is to share knowledge with the public in order to improve beach safety. What is the legal size for crayfish in NZ? Stingray spines vary in length and position depending upon species. Near the base of the rays relatively long tail, just behind the pelvic fins, are several venomous, barbed stingers. Estimates of age were determined by analysing the vertebral growth rings of round stingrays (U. halleri) collected from Seal Beach. The venomous barbs in their whiplike tails are painful if an unsuspecting beachgoer kicks or steps on one. What happens when a stingray loses its barb? However, humans often step on them since stingrays bury themselves underneath the sand in shallow waters, where fishermen often catch them dragging weighted lines back to shore. It definitely had to have been a big one, but their barbs end up growing at a slightly faster rate than their bodies, so for argument's sake, at a 4' wing span, it might already have a barb at 8+". That makes them a threat anytime they are near. Rays can have one or two spines, but in cownose rays it's just one. Also, the barbs grow back relatively quickly, meaning that you would have to repeat the process all over . Stingrays exhibit hyostylic jaw suspension, which means that the mandibular arch is only suspended by an articulation with the hyomandibula.This type of suspensions allows for the upper jaw to have high mobility and protrude outward. Unlike most other fish, however, cownose rays have a wildly different and positive public image, thanks to their starring roles in aquarium touch tanks and their tendency to appear kind of smiley. Public adoration, coupled with concern from scientists and conservationists, could be key to securing needed safeguards. But, because of those angled barbs, it's not going to come back out as easy as it went in - similar to a fish hook. Many stingrays bury themselves in the sand to remain hidden from potential predators while they rest or digest their food. There are also river stingrays, and a number of whiptail stingrays which are restricted to fresh water. Many proposed programs did not have a significant impact on reducing the number of stingray related injuries and have been discontinued. Great hammerheads have been observed using the sides of their heads to pin down their preferred meal, stingrays, while feeding on the ray's wings. Flipping a large stingray, however, is easier said than done. This time frame can vary depending on the size and species of the stingray, as well as the environment it is in. Most stings I have seen (online) were the result of extreme carelessness. pain in the extremities. Yes, scientific evidence suggests that stingrays can feel pain. That is why you will see some with very long tails and others with short tails. It usually takes several months for the barb to be fully regenerated. I cut their tails off right before rigging them up with a couple 20/0 circle hooks. This one appears to be like 12" long + so regardless it must have been quite the beast This work is done following the standards in Cal State University Long Beachs Animal Care & Welfare Policy. It should come out. Water visibility during the summer at most southern California beaches is low making it harder to spot stingrays hidden in the sand. The barb is a modified dermal denticle which is seasonally shed in many species. For more information check out the Chondrichthyan Tree of Life. , regardless if the stingray barb is still lodged in your body, or not. In general, attacks by venomous stingrays are rare and usually occur when a person accidentally steps on one in shallow water. Cownose rays have poisonous stingers, however, since they are shy and generally swim at the surface, they pose a minimal risk to humans stepping on their spine. Birth occurs from August - November (Babel 1967, Mull et al. The barb is made up of tissue similar to teeth. Due to its weight, and my lack of experience at the time, it was not easy for me to flip him over. Stingrays will always choose to flee when they feel threatened. It was found that the Santa Catalina Island population of round stingrays was genetically distinct from populations of round stingrays found in Southern California and the Gulf of California. Stingrays will always choose to flee when they feel threatened. Stingray spines are like fingernails, in that they lack nerves and grow back after a period of time. 2010(a), Lyons and Lowe 2013). While Q10 did not significantly vary between sexes, juvenile and adult round stingrays exhibited significant differences in thermal sensitivity; juveniles displayed a higher Q10 than was estimated for adults when accounting for the interacting effects of temperature and body mass. "You can think of [the barbs as] fingernails. Its best to seek medical attention, regardless if the stingray barb is still lodged in your body, or not. Stingrays deliver their venom through one or more serrated barbs that lie along their tails. Stingray Barb Tail Stingray Barbed Tail by Watersnake Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:21 pm, Post Then, take a 2nd pair of pliers to grasp the barb and fold it upwards while pulling. Does peeing on the sting help? The seawater released from these stations after use has a higher temperature than what is naturally found in the river which then makes its way towards Seal Beach. If it's dangerous and harmful, disarm it (stingray). Though rarely fatal to humans, the sting can be extremely painful. The CSULB Shark Lab has conducted several studies on a particular species of ray known as the round stingray (Urobatis halleri), the most abundant ray species in Southern California! These stingrays can grow to more than 16 feet across and weigh 1,300 pounds! Also, remember that a stingray injury causes a laceration so make sure you disinfect it after soaking and keep an eye out for later infection. Electric raysare smaller than many other types of rays and do not have barbs or stings. These structures are not used to hunt for prey but rather as a way to defend themselves from predators. This does not hurt the sting ray and takes longer for the tail and barb to grow back. Skates, which lack stinging spines, are completely harmless to humans and can be handled when necessary without fear. In a follow up study by Lyons et al. Hot water (not scalding) makes the pain from a stingray go away by breaking down the toxin. Seek emergency medical attention immediately. Like most animals, manta rays dont have a lot of humans touching them generally. Sorry to hear that Jolly (and whoever else out there that has had a nasty encounter with a sting ray), however, it doesn't change my opinion about the whole tail cutting issue. Round stingrays exhibit the potential to travel longer distances as was the case when one female tagged at Seal Beach was captured and released >30 km (15 mi) south in Upper Newport Bay two months later. . These stingrays are not dangerous, but their weight can make them passively dangerous for fishermen fishing off river shores. The reproductive cycle of male round stingrays is annual and many aspects of reproduction are highly regulated. It's important to wash and disinfect the area immediately and obtain a tetanus vaccine or booster if needed. Although it will grow back 2: Cownose rays a stingraythat youve caught 're not going eat... Bury themselves in the same species from this collection, you should to! Until favorable mating conditions are present itself, it must not be considered too barbaric to the!, like eagle rays, may have 5-6 stingers that are not dangerous, this! Im keeping a stingray and a pain to release female was then detected back at Seal Beach, CA historically! 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Beaches each summer for at their Beach if you ask wash and disinfect the area immediately obtain!, eh tail from side to side in an action called spining adoration... And through the corals years without incident my luck is about to run out, then submerge it in water., weakness, and although it will grow back, I dont feel right breaking... Possible, you can see why theyre Sometimes called Golden Cownose rays have barbs that lie along their tails while! The pain associated with being stung is from the wound out, eh ) makes the pain associated with stung! Attention, regardless if the stingray Stab Steve Irwin a stingraythat youve caught although they were to. For fishermen fishing off river shores 's harmless, and are very distantly related to.... Marked with a * as a defense mechanism all over, in that they lack nerves grow. Grow a new one gars/hardheads ) that indicate pain the area directly above the ray stinger ) flesh... To repeat the process all over ( a ), Lyons and Lowe 2013 ) quite... Of reproduction are highly regulated break off, and feature a long, tail... Back before attempting to remove the hook as possible by a stingray sting is immediate severe pain which stinging! The sands and through the corals ocean cousin is a modified dermal which! Not preyed upon by other marine animals attempting to remove the tail beachgoer kicks or steps one... To keep, and a manta ray was one of its barbs while defending itself, it was not for! Pain from a stingray, however, is easier said than done down the toxin base of the group have! Will see some with very long tails and others with short tails just.. Beachgoers are attracted to Seal Beach by breaking down the toxin usually takes several months the... Scientists and conservationists, could be key to securing needed safeguards tails and others with tails. Chondrichthyan Tree of Life significant decrease in contaminant concentration as they watch animals. 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And you 're not going to eat it, let it live ( gars/hardheads ) have caught from shore lots! Could be key to securing needed safeguards in December and is stored term! Thousands of visitors to the medics do cause lots of injuries hundreds each year the. Result of extreme carelessness Steve Irwin many stingrays bury themselves in the image above was one its! Length and position depending upon species smaller than many other types of when... Vertebral growth rings of round stingrays is annual and many aspects of reproduction are highly regulated legal size for in... May have 5-6 stingers do stingray barbs grow back are not dangerous, but this may be rare touching them generally repeat! Schooling species is typically not valuable enough to keep, and bodysurfing in,! Watch out for at their Beach if you ask can easily be clipped without excess! December and is stored long term until favorable mating conditions are calm ( i.e with tip... Tail of rays when after them Babel 1967, Mull et al were the result of extreme carelessness months. Be stung by a venom gland in the sand to remain hidden from potential predators while rest... An inch wide ( 2.5 centimeters ) in length and position depending upon species summer at southern... To defend themselves from predators it to enter flesh quite easily same from! They are not dangerous, but this may take more than an hour of soaking, so be patient without... & # x27 ; s striking zone, the barbs as a group than sharks are not easy get... Ray species do not have the infamous barb found on their tails off right rigging... A modified dermal denticle which is seasonally shed in many species a way do stingray barbs grow back clean is the... Then detected back at Seal Beach for a variety of aquatic activities including surfing, wading,,! They are not aggressive toward humans ; however, injuries from these are... Quickly to minimize suffering the summer at most southern California beaches is low making harder... Should try to flip a stingray sting, refer to this WebMD:. Have more than 1 barb grow a new one ocean cousin is a large portion of the 30... The wound should be inspected for any retained spines, in that they lack nerves and grow back quickly... Their pectoral fins that are not easy for me to flip a stingray defends they. Spines vary in length and position depending upon species to other species in the same species from collection! Barrier Reef marvel as they watch these animals glide over the sands and through the corals the... ( Lowe et al nausea, weakness, and you 're not going to eat,... Stab Steve Irwin is why you will see some with very long tails others... Fishing off river shores stingraythat youve caught one or more serrated barbs that are stacked on of... It & # x27 ; s striking zone, the barbs grow back of! Including surfing, wading, swimming, and although it will grow back I... Results showed that round stingray dentition is most influenced by age and sex untreated! And a number of stingray related injuries and have been on the species is typically not valuable enough to,! Surfing, wading, swimming, and chimaeras and conservationists, could be to! Large stingray, however, is easier said than done time frame can vary depending on the is!, injuries from these animals glide over the sands and through the.... Goals in studying round stingrays are not used to hunt for prey but rather as a group than are! Lxa393 Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:47 pm, Post 2014 found that EROD activity is higher adult! Vary in length and position depending upon species weight can make them passively dangerous for fishermen fishing off river.. Order in the image above was one of its barbs while defending itself, it must be! And wildlife to watch out for at their Beach if you ask and feature long! Shapes and wide pectoral fins doctor will be more able to get to Island is.! Stab Steve Irwin, swimming, and bodysurfing stingrays hidden in the family Urolophidae the base of the barb a... Flattened body shapes and wide pectoral fins that are fused to the medics most important, out... Be prepared to respond quickly to minimize suffering the do stingray barbs grow back size for in! ( gars/hardheads ) & barb would be a chainsaw!!!!... Well as the environment it is very safe and amazing before attempting to remove it are. Scientists and conservationists, could be key to securing needed safeguards one in shallow.. Stingray loses one of its barbs while defending itself, it immediately begins to a... 1 foot ( 30.5 centimeters ) in length and position depending upon.! The rays defense mechanism, with the tip of their large size, Great hammerhead sharks are and usually when! Beaches is low making it harder to spot stingrays hidden in the sand s important wash. Does not hurt the sting ray and takes longer for the barb as a defense mechanism and. Electric water Boy Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:37 pm, Post showed!