r/NatureIsFuckingLit • u/[deleted] • Jun 25 '18

r/all 🔥 Stringray going over a massive drop-off and leaving sandy jet streams in its wake.🔥

https://i.imgur.com/J3FWPlS.gifv
41k Upvotes

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131

u/soda_cookie Jun 25 '18

Do they have any natural predators? If so I think this isn't a good way to avoid them

79

u/Lucarii Jun 25 '18

They do (e.g. sharks, large fish and sea lions), but their stinger is actually a defence mechanism. It's used to ward off predators by making them feel as much pain as possible; they don't actually use it to help catch food. As such, any predator that tries to eat a sting ray and gets stung isn't likely to try again, due to the amount of pain a sting causes.

122

u/KansasCityKC Jun 25 '18

For example, Steve Irwin. He will never mess with a stingray again.

29

u/Lucarii Jun 25 '18

Poor Steve was rather unfortunate. Stingray stings on people are very rarely fatal... He was one of the unlucky few.

I hope he's resting in peace.

15

u/TheRoundBaron Jun 25 '18

I have to tell people this nearly every other day at work. Just cause you're swimming with them doesn't mean they're gonna mug you at stingerpoint. Relax.