![]() ![]() They are considered one of the smartest fish in the sea and are believed to have self-awareness – this means they can even recognize themselves in a mirror. They can reach a staggering 7m in length they have triangular pectoral fins and forward facing mouths. They are friendly animals that adapt easily to people. This means they are not dangerous at all for divers or snorkelers. Mantas also do not have a ‘stinger’ at the end of their tail. Manta rays swim in open waters whereas stingrays stay close to the ocean bottom. ![]() They share many similarities to sting rays and eagle rays but it is easy for divers to differentiate them in the water. In The Red Sea they can be spotted in open waters in the south. Aquarium Residentsįour species of stingrays and two species of skates can be found throughout the National Aquarium.Manta rays are phenomenal fish that are often found in tropical or subtropical waters as they prefer warmer climates. For example, typical freshwater stingrays have relatively short, stout tails that are similar to a skate's tail, and the butterfly ray-a species of marine stingray-has a thin, but exceptionally short, tail.Īnd although thorn-like spikes are typically a telltale sign of skates, the roughtail stingray also sports bony "thorns" on its disc and tail. There are exceptions to the general rule of long-and-thin tails for stingrays and short-and-thick tails for skates. Stingrays are in the order Myliobatiformes skates are in the order Rajiformes. When it comes to their classification within the animal kingdom, both stingrays and skates belong to the class Chondrichthyes-but then they diverge. Skates, on the other hand, have small, pointed teeth, which come in handy for capturing small fish, crustaceans and other prey. Stingray's mouths are typically lined with flat, plate-like teeth that are used for crushing hard-shelled prey such as oysters and clams. It's not a hard-and-fast rule, but generally, stingrays are larger than skates. SizeĪnother clue that can help distinguish these two elasmobranchs is size. These egg cases are sometimes referred to as mermaid's purses. If you've ever come across a rectangular, black, leathery pouch with horns extending from each corner while strolling the beach, you've found a skate egg case. Skates, however, are oviparous, which means they lay eggs. Stingrays are viviparous, which means they give birth to fully formed young. The reproductive strategies of these two elasmobranchs are vastly different. A would-be predator, like a shark or grouper, that spots a skate may think twice about biting down on these thorn-like adornments. ![]() These "thorns" aren't venomous like a stingray's spines, but they're also used for protection. Instead of stinging spines, skates' tails are lined with blunt, thorny projections, which also line skates' backs. Stingrays typically aren't aggressive but will protect themselves when threatened by raising their tails up, piercing the skin of their predators and injecting the venom. These sharp, serrated spines deliver venom into predators-or into the feet of humans that accidentally step on a buried stingray, which can be extremely painful, but rarely fatal. If you take a look at a stingray's tail, you'll find their namesake stinging spines, or barbs, which they use as protection. ![]() oviparous-there are more differences between stingrays and skates than meets the eye. ![]()
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