Interesting information about stingrays. What does the electric stingray eat and how does it hunt? Electric ramp - characteristics and description

There is no boring, uninteresting animal in nature. Evolution never goes straight - animal mutations often take on amazing, peculiar forms that give the appearance of fish or birds a unique charm.

Remarkable in this respect are the stingray fish. All of them are arranged both externally and internally in a very original way - such was the whim of nature, which formed the unique appearance of these fish.

Curious facts about stingrays

Stingray unusual already one form of his torso. A strongly flattened body, rhombic or rounded, pectoral fins fused with the head, an elongated tail, giving a resemblance to a fish with a children's kite - and this is not all the features of rays!

The stingray animal has no bones. None - the skeleton of this fish consists entirely of cartilage. bony fish a swim bladder is used for balancing - and stingrays do not tend to swim the fastest, they are quite comfortable just lying flat on the ground. Hence such a pancake-like shape of the body of the stingray.

The stingray never sees what it sends into its mouth during a meal. The nostrils, mouth opening and gill slits are located at the bottom of the head of the stingray fish, while the eyes are proudly located at the top.

The caudal fin of the stingray is reduced to a sharp spike or even transformed into a neat fold. For swimming, the stingrays do not use the tail (caudal fin), but the pectoral fins - the stingrays seem to be planning in the water, like birds, gently swaying with their entire body.

Stingrays breathe using steam respiratory organ. Exhalation, as one would expect, goes through the gills. But the stingrays lying on the bottom cannot inhale water with their gills - after all, sand and silt will rise from the ground, which the stingrays absolutely do not need in their vulnerable entrails. Inhalation is carried out through the sprinklers - holes located behind the eyes.

When hunting, stingrays rely on more than just sight and smell. Sensitive electroreceptors, “built into” the skin of stingrays, allow you to capture the slightest changes in the electric field. Such changes include impulses that occur, for example, when the muscles of a nearby other fish contract.

A hungry stingray will easily find a fish for dinner by tracking its heartbeat. And 27,000 taste buds will help a stingray enjoy dinner.

Sea Devil- this is also called this majestic, and absolutely safe animal. The size and amazing appearance have led to the creation of legends and stories about this extraordinary fish.

They are able to make high jumps over water.

sea ​​giant

The large fins of the stingray, similar to wings, reach seven meters. They can be completely wrapped whale shark- the most big fish in the world. For the scope and massiveness of the wings-fins of the manta, scientists biologists consider it the largest stingray, a real marine giant.

Habitat

Stingrays live in the warm waters of all oceans except the Arctic. They are most often found in Indian Ocean where they form whole flocks. Usually stingrays soar in the water column, absorbing the plankton crop, often resting near the surface, exposing their tips to the outside. pectoral fins.

Stingrays are attracted to air bubbles

brain size

Interestingly, manta rays are the most "brainy" fish in the oceans. Specific gravity manta brain (relative to body weight) is the largest of known to science fish. It is possible that manta rays are the smartest fish on Earth.

Manta rays feed on plankton, crustaceans and small fish. In the way for accumulations of plankton, stingrays can travel thousands of kilometers. Stingrays feed on plankton interesting way: they line up in a long "chain" and close it in a circle, then the rays quickly move in a circle, thereby creating a "tornado" under water. This funnel sucks in and holds the plankton captive. A feast begins at the stingrays, they absorb their prey.

giant mouth

The mouth of these stingrays is very wide and is located on cutting edge heads. Like other stingrays, mantas have a peculiar filtering apparatus, consisting of gill plates, on which food is filtered - planktonic crustaceans, small fish.

In the gloomy depths of the seas and oceans, such monsters lurk that you were afraid to even think about. Stinging with poisonous spikes, shocking - they are still the most unexplored inhabitants of the water expanses of our planet. Now you will read the most interesting facts about stingrays, what little we know about them at the moment.

1. The stingray is one of the most dangerous creatures oceans. A 15 cm spike hidden in its tail easily pierces the victim or drives away the offender. The notches on the spike make the wound lacerated and incompatible with life, and after the attack, the spike remains in the victim's body. In addition, it is poisonous and can even kill a person.
2. The manta ray occasionally jumps out of the water to the surface.. The height of these jumps reaches three meters. Scientists suggest that in this way, manta rays, like schooling fish, give a certain signal to the rest of the flock.

   

3. Sea devils, otherwise known as manta rays, despite their impressive size reaching two tons, are harmless in nature. Lacking poisonous thorns, they often become victims of their own relatives - sharks. But they best friends for curious divers who can swim side by side with these giants.

   

4. Stingrays have direct relationship with sharks. These two species are the best known members of the class of cartilaginous fish that lack a bony skeleton. Although they are predators, plankton and small crustaceans living on the ocean floor are enough for them to feed.

   

5. Female sea devil bears only one cub for one year. It is born weighing more than 10 kilograms and about one meter in size. After that, the female loses all interest in him, and the newborn sets off for free swimming.

   

6. During the period mating games, up to twenty males gather near the female manta. A kind of dance takes place, when the males repeat after the female all her movements. As a result, the most skilled male gets the right to copulate, which lasts only a minute and a half.

   

7. In regions where electric rays live, locals and tourists hold peculiar sessions traditional medicine. It is believed that if you receive a series of discharges from such a ramp, you can cure many diseases, such as arthritis or back pain.

   

8. The strength of the current discharge after being hit by an electric ramp is theoretically enough to cause death to a person. True, the history of such cases does not know, because it is quite difficult to get such a blow by accident. The slope should be large in size, and a person should not just touch it with his finger, but practically hug the fish.

   

   
   
9. [b] In marble electric stingrays, the heart contracts only 15 times per minute, which allows them to burrow into the sand and lie on the bottom without moving for several days. Low oxygen content in water and high pressure not a hindrance to these born hunters.

   

10. The spines of the stingrays were used in ancient times by the tribes of the countries of the Pacific basin as arrowheads and spears. In addition, they were saturated with poison, which brought additional damage to the enemy.

    

11. Sea cats are the only species of stingrays that live in Russia and Ukraine, in the Black and Seas of Azov . Like all stingrays, it is poisonous. That does not interfere with its industrial fishing. Stingray meat is considered a delicacy in many countries, and liver sea ​​cat rich in vitamin D.

    

12. Motoro - the most common freshwater stingray. For its relatively small size - the maximum length with a tail - 1 m, diameter - up to 30 cm, has gained popularity among aquarists around the world. True, by getting yourself such pet, it is worth remembering that the spikes on his tail are as poisonous as those of his "wild" relatives.

    

13. It is a mistake to believe that these fish are found exclusively in warm waters.. The habitat of the Northern stingray and Smooth (diamond) stingray extends up to the bottom of the Northern Arctic Ocean and the seas around it.

    

14. Sawfish - the oldest fossil mesozoic era, the extraction of which is prohibited. Revered by the Aztecs, some Asian peoples. The saw served as a sacred symbol, with which it was possible to exorcise spirits, treat diseases.

    

15. Steve Irwin, a TV presenter from Australia, was killed on the set of his program by a stingray thorn hitting him right in the heart.

    

Features and habitat of the manta ray

Sea manta ray is a vertebrate animal, the only one of its kind, which has 3 pairs of active limbs. The width of the largest representatives of the species can reach 10 meters, however, medium-sized individuals are most often found - about 5 meters.

Their weight fluctuates around 3 tons. On the Spanish the word "scat" means a blanket, that is, the animal got its name because of the unusual shape of the body.

Habitat habitat manta rays temperate, tropical and subtropical waters. The depth has a wide range - from coastal areas to 100-120 meters.

It is generally accepted that the characteristics of the organism and the unusual shape of the body allow the manta to descend to a depth of more than 1000 meters. Most often, the appearance near the coasts is associated with the change of seasons and time of day.

So, in spring and autumn, stingrays live in shallow water, in winter they swim into open ocean. The same thing happens with the change of time of day - during the day the animals are closer to the surface, at night they rush to the depth.

The body of the animal is a movable rhombus, since its fins are securely fused with the head. Manta ray in the photo From above, it appears as a flat, elongated spot gliding across the water. From the side, it can be seen that the "spot" at the same time moves the body in waves and taxis with a long tail. In addition to photos, relevant manta ray vectors.

Mouth great manta ray located on its upper part, the so-called back. If the mouth is open, a “hole” gapes on the body of the stingray, about 1 meter wide. The eyes are also there, on the sides of the head protruding from the body.

In the photo, a manta ray with an open mouth

The surface of the back is dark in color, most often brown, blue or black. The abdomen is light. White spots are also often present on the back, which in most cases are in the form of hooks. There are also completely black representatives of the species, the only bright place in which is a small spot on the lower part.

The nature and lifestyle of the manta ray

The movement of mantas occurs due to the movement of fins fused with the head. From the outside, it looks more like a leisurely flight or hovering above the bottom surface than swimming. The animal looks peaceful and relaxed, however manta ray size still makes a person feel in danger next to him.

IN big water ramps move predominantly in a straight path, maintaining the same speed long time. Along the surface of the water, where the sun warms its surface, the stingray can slowly circle.

The largest manta ray can live in complete isolation from other representatives of the species, and can gather in large groups(up to 50 individuals). Giants get along well in the neighborhood with other non-aggressive and mammals.

An interesting habit of animals is jumping. Manta ray jumping out of the water and may even perform somersaults over its surface. Sometimes such behavior is massive and one can observe the next or simultaneous somersault of several mantas at once.

Another interesting fact about the manta ray is that this giant must constantly be in motion, since its spiracles are underdeveloped. Movement helps pump water over the gills.

Manta ray food

Almost all residents underwater world can become prey for the manta ray. Representatives of the species small size they feed on various worms, larvae, mollusks, small ones, they can even catch small ones. That is, medium and small-sized mantas absorb food of animal origin.

It is considered a paradox that giant stingrays, on the contrary, feed mainly on plankton and tiny ones. Passing water through itself, the stingray filters it, leaving prey and oxygen dissolved in water. "Hunting" for plankton, the manta ray can travel long distances, although fast speed does not develop. average speed- 10 km / h.

Reproduction and lifespan of the manta ray

reproductive system stingrays is very developed and complex. Mantas reproduce ovoviviparously. Fertilization occurs internally. The male is ready to mate when the width of his body reaches 4 meters, he usually reaches this size at the age of 5-6 years. The young female is 5-6 meters wide. Same age of maturity.

mating dances stingrays are also a complex process. Initially, one or more males chase one female. This can go on for half an hour. The female herself chooses a partner for mating.

As soon as the male has reached the chosen one, he turns her upside down, grabbing her by the fins. Then the male introduces the genital organ into the cloaca. The stingrays occupy this position for a couple of minutes, during which fertilization occurs. There have been cases where multiple males have been fertilized.

The eggs are fertilized in the body of the female and the young hatch there. At first, they feed on the remains of the "shell", that is, the gall sac, in which the eggs are in the form of embryos. Then, when this supply runs out, they begin to receive nutrients from mother's milk.

Thus, the embryos live in the body of the female for about a year. At one time, a stingray can give birth to one or two cubs. This happens in shallow water, where they subsequently remain until they gain strength. The body length of a small stingray can reach 1.5 meters.

Rays are related to sharks. First, what unites them is that both do not have bones, they are replaced by cartilage. Second, they live in the depths of the sea. Third, this is what they lead predatory image life.


The habitats of stingrays, as well as sharks, are different latitudes and depths of the seas.

Stingrays look quite peculiar, at first glance, they resemble a children's toy - kite. They have a flattened body, as if pressed down by someone from above. The body of stingrays is covered with scales, appearance which resembles thorns. The structure of these spikes is similar to the structure of teeth. Immediately from the head, huge pectoral fins are placed, it seems that they have grown together with the head. Stingrays swim with the help of these fins, the work of which sets the whole body in motion. In this way, stingrays differ from their relatives - sharks, in which the main thing in swimming is their powerful tail.


The teeth of the stingrays fit snugly together, outwardly they look like a grater. The eyes are located on top of the head, the eyeballs are tightly grown to its base, which are completely devoid of blinking reflexes. The sizes of stingrays are different: they can range from a few centimeters to seven meters in length.

Stingray habitats

Stingrays are mostly bottom dwellers and their favorite places to live are sea ​​depths . Since they are predators, they are happy to eat small fish, crayfish, mollusks, which are found at the bottom of reservoirs. Because they live mainly on the bottom of the oceans and seas, the color of the dorsal part of the stingrays changes from sandy to black. By this they adapt to the changing and insidious bottom world and the color of the back changes for conspiracy. The habitats of stingrays are quite diverse: they can live in the cold waters of Antarctica and in tropical seas. They feel very comfortable at water temperatures up to 30 0 C. Many species of stingrays live right off the coast, at a depth of up to one meter, but there are also those that descend to an ocean depth of up to three kilometers.

Varieties of stingrays

In nature, there are more than four hundred varieties of rays. Their appearance and lifestyle directly depends on their habitats.

For example, here are some of them:

- this species is characterized by the fact that the weight of this stingray can reach up to 2 tons (!) And the wingspan in motion is up to 7 meters. The manta ray looks very bewitching when it is swimming, it resembles a huge fairy-tale bird. A characteristic feature of this species of stingrays is that they, like dolphins, love to jump out of the water, reaching a height of up to 1.5 meters and fall back splashing water in different directions.

- their wingspan is slightly smaller, reaches up to 2.5 meters, It can stretch up to five meters in length. The stingrays of this species have a certain spike at the end of the tail, which they use in self-defense and can hit the enemy so that he flies far to the side.

Electric ramps- this type of slopes has natural gift, an electrical discharge that can protect a stingray from impending danger or paralyze its prey. The charge of electricity is laid at the junction of the head of the stingray and the pectoral fins. Discharge strength electric current an ordinary ramp can reach up to 40 volts. This blow will be enough to stun the victim, paralyze them and then eat them.

Features of reproduction of rays

The female stingray, during the mating season, gathers around her a huge number of males, who, as if spellbound, synchronously repeat all the movements of the female. The most successful and agile male, who won these games, gets the right to copulate with the female, which lasts only a minute and a half.

Stingrays reproduce in different ways: there are viviparous and laying eggs, the so-called capsules, inside each there is a fertilized egg. There is such a species of stingrays as the Sea Devil, the female of this species bears one single baby for a whole year, which is born weighing more than ten kilograms and growing up to one meter. After his birth, the mother loses all interest in her child and he sets off on his own.

• The stingray is the most stingray dangerous view for a person. A huge spike is placed on the tail of the stingray of this species, at the end of which poisonous cells are placed. Upon receiving a portion of this poison, a person can be completely paralyzed, can fall to a minimum blood pressure, skeletal joints and muscles can be paralyzed without recovery.
• The eyes and mouth of the stingray are located in different places on the head and the stingray never sees what it absorbs while eating.
• People are engaged in catching stingrays and use its skin for the production of belts and wallets, and the meat is eaten.
• In places where the stingray lives, locals and tourists try to get an electric shock from the stingray. It is believed that having received the desired discharge of electricity from the stingray, people will get rid of many diseases, such as back pain.
• Ancient people were actively hunting for stingrays caudate-shaped. They used the spikes of these rays to make arrows. In addition to being very convenient in hunting, they were saturated with poison, which helped them in the fight against external enemies. Information about the features, habitats, habits and consequences of encounters with a stingray is so interesting and informative that a whole book is not enough to describe everything that people are interested in about these rather unusual creatures.