Stingray

Since sea snake venoms are discussed here, it is appropriate to review other vertebrate venoms also. Unfortunately, very few investigations have been done on the venoms of other marine vertebrates. It is known that some fish secrete venoms from their spines. The fishes known to have venoms are the scorpion fish (family Scorpaenidae), weever fish (family Trachinidae), catfish (order Siluriformes there are 31 families), stargazers (family Uranoscopidae), toad fish (family Batrachoidi-dae), and stingrays (suborder Myliobatoidea). 

As for the stingray venom, not much is known. There was a report on the presence of 5 -nucleotidase and phosphodiesterase in stingray, Urolophus halleri, venom (29). 

About 250 fish species possess various kinds of venom apparatus. The stingray and scorpion fish belong in this category. Stingrays have a... 

Stingrays Dasyatidae Not a phospholipase Protein Defense in general Pain, death (1%)... 

POMC peptides derived from rat pituitary extracts prolactin-releasing peptides in the bovine hypothalamic extract pseudechetoxin, a peptide blocker of cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels pseudo-peptide analogues of thiol proteinase inhibitors relaxin-like molecule from the male atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina... 

Some fish are venomous and have means of delivering venom to other animals. This is accomplished, for example, by spines on weever fish. The infamous stingray has a serrated spine on its tail that can be used to inflict severe wounds, while depositing venom from specialized cells along the spine. The venom increases the pain from the wound and has systemic effects, especially on the cardiovascular system. 

Shagreen is a leather made horn the skin of fish of the ray family, especially stingray. It can also be made from sharkskin. 

In South America, the papaya (probably for its papain content) is used as a home remedy for jellyfish, bee, and wasp stings mosquito and snake bites and even stingray wounds (efficacy uncertain), for its ability to break down protein toxins in the venom. It is also an ingredient in some first aid creams and may be used as an enzymatic agent for treating infected skin wounds. 

Gibb s Cay Located less than a mile west of Grand Turk, Gibb s Cay is perhaps the best day trip in all of Turks and Caicos. Free-dive for queen conchs, then snorkel with southern stingrays while your guides turn the mollusks into salad. Afternoon trips leave from Grand Turk and Salt Cay. 

Chukka Caribbean Adventures — the company that takes you on horseback rides and Bob Marley birthplace tours — now presents Stingray City on James Bond Beach in Oracabessa, near Ocho Rios. The 29 rays will be exposed to no more than four groups of visitors each day, and guides will see that each person (6 years and up) enjoys a close encounter of the most memorable kind. ( 65 for adults, 35 for children 876-726-1630 stingraycity jamaica.com)... 

Alabaster beaches, jungly Maya temples, snorkel spots jammed with friendly stingrays and on and on Cruise lines offer hundreds of shore excursions at Caribbean ports of call. So how do you decide where to go and what to do By checking out our recommendations — every one of them a shore thing. 

On Grand Turk, hop a short boat ride to uninhabited Gibbs Cay and snorkel with stingrays in the shallow, clear water. Expbre the coral reef 50 yards off the beach. 

B Take a tri p to Grand Cayman s Skingray Cily to snorkel with and hand-feed these sleek marine creatures. If your ship arrives early, get over to Stingray Sandbar, where there are more rays and fewer people. 

The Curasao Sea Aquarium has more than 400 varieties of fish and marine animals on display. Y>u can swim with and hand-feed sharks and stingrays, or stay dry in the underwater observatories. 

Stingrays live in warm temperate and tropical zones in a great abundance. Their mouth is positioned on the undersurface of their body, making it easier to find food on or in the sandy bottoms of the ocean. Rays feed on live crustaceans, shellfish and other invertebrates. Instead of teeth, rays have crushing plates that allow them to grind their food. 

The disk-like body of the stingray forms an almost perfect rhombus with pointed corners. They have flexible tapering tails that are very often armed with one or more saw-edged, envenomed spines. With only a few exceptions, they don t have dorsal and pelvic fins. Stingrays prefer warmer waters, so when it gets cold, they will seek warmer waters or dive deep er away from cold currents. 

Stingrays are not aggressive by nature. They lay on the sea bottom peacefully and are -10 to spot by normal means. They sting only when stepped on or handled. Large Stingrays have enough force to break a wooden boat by lashing their tails. The venom breaks down... 

Stingrays are often mistaken for Manta Rays. Manta Rays are larger, reaching a much greater body width and have a diamond-shaped disc. Manta Rays lack a stinging barb are therefore relatively harmless. Their head also has odd fins that guide plankton into the mouth. 

Dasyatis Americana Common Name(s) Southern Stingray... 

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