A Stingray's Diet
Stingrays are fish that are distinguished by a flat, flowing body and a long narrow tail that stretches out straight behind them. They are found in both saltwater and freshwater varieties. Learning more about what stingrays eat and how they get their prey can tell you about the way that these fish live.
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Features
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The diet of a stingray is always carnivorous. It includes animals that are found on the ocean floor, like shellfish and mussels, but it also includes plankton, which are tiny organisms that float through the ocean. The large manta ray is almost exclusively a plankton eater, and it will filter plankton into its mouth continuously as it swims.
Types
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There are two types of stingrays, and they have different dietary habits. Bottom feeding stingray, which are called benthic rays, eat shellfish, bivalves, worms and mollusks. Swimming stingrays, which are called pelagic rays, will also feed on the bottom of the ocean, but many pelagic ray species will also eat plankton.
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Location
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Stingrays are found all over the world, and their diet varies depending on where they are. They are usually found very close to the coasts in temperate waters.
Warning
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Stingrays are typically very docile and harmless to humans, but they do hunt in areas where humans are likely to swim. They will bury themselves in the sand and, if a diver or swimmer accidentally disturbs them, they can deliver a toxic sting.
Identification
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One way that a stingray can identify its prey is through electrical sensors known as the ampullae of Lorenzini. These sensors can identify the natural electrical charges that are created by the stingray's prey. The ampullae of Lorenzini are located near the stingray's mouth, and they are also found on sharks.
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References
- Photo Credit Stingray image by Ritu Jethani from Fotolia.com
