Stingray

Stingrays are a group of flat-bodied cartilaginous fish related to sharks, belonging to the order Myliobatiformes. They have a broad, rounded pectoral disc that forms the body and a long, whip-like tail that often bears one or more venomous spines near the base.

Most species inhabit shallow coastal and estuarine waters, though some freshwater stingrays live in rivers in South America, Africa, and Asia. They are bottom dwellers, feeding on mollusks, crustaceans, and worms, and they use electroreceptors known as ampullae of Lorenzini to locate prey.

Reproduction is typically viviparous, with embryos nourished by a placental connection and born as live young. Stingrays are generally solitary, though they may gather at feeding sites or migrations. When threatened, they can flatten themselves against the seabed and use their tail to deliver a sting from the venomous spine.

Human encounters can result in stings, which may cause intense pain and require medical attention in some cases. Conservation concerns for stingrays include bycatch in commercial fisheries and habitat loss, with several species listed as threatened or near threatened. The term "stingray" covers multiple families within the Myliobatiformes, including both marine and freshwater species, and their exact ecological roles vary by species and region.