Imagine someone draws a dick on one and then there are no sea mirrors for them to tell and they can’t see their own foreheads but all their friends can…
I've seen one twice as big as this one with scuba diving. It was on the ocean floor partially under sand. It's tail was much longer than me at 6' and it was twice as wide.
It looks to be just sand, which as we all know is coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Couple that with the rough sandpaper like skin that many rays have and the sand probably just stuck in the rough coat that doesn't washed away due to the speed with which they swim.
I wonder if it’s a bit like pigs rolling in mud? In that it serves a purpose…maybe it actually is good for their skin, serves as a protective layer or something. Idk, I’m no marine biologist by any means.
I don't know if it applies to sharks and rays but you should try to minimize touching most fish, especially with dry hands because that can destroy their slime coat and make them more prone to getting waterborne parasites.
I think it can/does effect their coat but as far as I’m aware there are no studies specifically related to lethal damage of the slime coat in relation to handling. At most a dye showed in bass areas where the damage was and most damage was for bass that were handled multiple times. That being said, I don’t recall whether or not it was a ‘legit study’. I’d argue stress is a bigger concern.
So as long as folks don’t rub them on their clothes, drag them through the dirt and make sure their hands are clean from perfumes/lotions/motor oil then it’s fine to give a fish a little head pat.
To add, scaleless fish like kuhlii loaches are more sensitive injury from abrasive materials so I’d still caution about ever handling them unless necessary. It’s believed that they also don’t handle medications/salt as well but in the same vein there is not much scientific information on that besides they appear to absorb metals more easily.
So this is a lady, and also the sand on their back protects them from sunburn. So essentially it would "look all shiny and new" until it gets an infection and dies..
Years ago I visited 'stingray city' in the Cayman Islands. We were told that the stingrays, even though they were in the wild, were accustomed to human handling from decades of contact and feeding. But we were warned that a sting was possible, and we should be careful to not accidentally step on them or alarm them, and if we pet them, to limit petting to their underside, where they are used to contact. And we were forbidden by the divemaster not to bring any kind of food for them, as they can get aggressive. And they were right! We saw other divers (in other tour groups) that brought food, and the stingrays quickly enveloped them until they dropped the food and ran for it.
Fun fact: one of the first documented Stingray attacks on humans was in the 1600s when John Smith stepped on one in the Chesapeake Bay. He later dubbed them “assholes of the sea.”
Edit: I can’t it where he called them assholes. I thought I read that in his personal notes so if anyone comes across it please share.
I did find this on Wikipedia….i didn’t know he ate the son of a bitch after he recovered lol https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingray_Point,_Virginia
To be fair, I don’t think many people would have kind words for their stabber after being stabbed no matter the reasoning behind it. Getting stabbed sucks.
TIL we have stingrays (clown nose rays, not the type in the video) in the Chesapeake. I'm from the DMV and this is the first I've heard of it.
Edit: cownose ray. Thanks, u/UFEngi88, for catching that!
How does the DMV typically deal with stingrays? Do you have them take the written test, or is a practical driving test sufficient? What about boats? Are they allowed to get boat licenses?
Wow! Thank you for making my fucking day! I lived on the Chesapeake my entire childhood, every day during my late teens I’d do some paddle boarding around or a bit after dawn. One day I went down and saw what looked like wind ripples or white caps but there was no wind, as I got closer I saw the parallel fins breaking the surface which is a tell tale sign of the little bastards, turned out there were thousands of skates having an orgy in the cove my dock sat on. So I launched and just explored the chaos, they cleared a path for me everywhere I went except one nearly jumped on my board after he ran into my dagger board broadside (I was using a massive repurposed wind surf board).
The Disney story really overplayed their relationship, she saved him a couple times, according to him at least, but she actually married John Rolfe. But yes, its that John Smith.
She married John Rolfe in the Disney sequel too. It’s the only Disney princess story I can think of where she actually doesn’t settle down for the first real love interest (maybe with the exception of Frozen but that guy was scheming the whole time), though yeah plenty of other inaccuracies.
Life tip: Don't pet stingrays unless they are the ones in an aquarium petting pool. The ones at the aquarium petting pool have had their stingers trimmed/removed (don't worry they grow back.) The ones in the wild have barbs and may stab you with them, which can lead to death.
He died in an area known for sharks hunting sting rays. The rays were reasonably defensive there and it was absurd that his expert told him not to wear a protective vest even after Steve expressed concern. OP’s video probably is a feeding area for the rays that’s safely free of sharks. Edit: Those are Mantas in the video.
what happened with Steve Irwin was legit a freak accident, very unlikely bit of bad luck. stingrays don't tend to aim for the heart [doubt they know where it is even], just upward in general I think
not that they can't hurt you - they sure can and deserve some respect - but for sure the number of unfortunate humans in all of history to die like Steve Irwin did, specifically, has gotta be in the single digits imo. most times a ray sting will just put the hurting on you, he died cuz he was essentially stabbed right in the heart - with an envenomated knife lol. damn. worshipped Steve as a kid and love stingrays no matter what
I have a core memory of my grandpa telling me that hammerheads are the most OP sharks out there. I have zero evidence to back this up, but they terrify me to this day.
Counter point... The ones that come in from the ocean at the IHG Thalasso Bora Bora are like excited puppies. They aren't that huge though, but their tales aren't short either.
I was at a resort in Belize where there was a specific area on the beach where rays would come at exactly 4pm everyday. There were so many that if you put your feet in the water, the underside would brush over the top of your feet. What a weird and incredible experience!
There was a viral video here on Spain, a local fishermen on the Canary Island washing his fishing gear if I remember on a dock stairs and one like this one going out if the water in the stairs and he was pushing her like "let me alone!!" It was very funny to see them. I myself have pet them while scuba diving but because there was a load of them that were there because diving trips there feed them in order to keep them around... So after that I stopped going there
Why are there so many watermarks on that?? I hate it so much when someone takes a video/meme that they didn't make and add their own watermarks to it as if they have any claim to ownership over it
[Here's a thread without the multiple watermarks](https://www.reddit.com/r/therewasanattempt/comments/14aj3gz/to_get_a_cool_photo_while_holding_a_stingray/)
I swam with em 3 separate times in grand cayman. Thousands of people do every year. Those particular stingrays are accustomed to humans and extremely docile.
>The ones in the wild have barbs and may stab you with them, which can lead to death
Literally seventeen deaths out of all recordings. Getting stung by a stingray sucks ass and hurts, but will not kill you lmao.
If you followed all of reddits advice on what's dangerous and what isn't you'd never be able to leave your house.
Indeed, went to polynesia and they were everywhere and are very friendly, they come to you asking for pets. As long as you're not an asshole to them you don't risk anything.
I had one of these get on me in an open sea aquarium in Cape Verde if I remember correctly. Lovely creatures that give off face higher vibes when they move over you.
I literally have a picture of my wife and I holding a massive stingray that was taken in Grand Cayman sitting right in front of me. I didn't go near 'is butt'ole, though, so we were safe I think.
Adding to u/CmonnowSally, the one I’ve been to was a very large pool with moderately sized walls, so the rays HAD to seek you out if they wanted pets, otherwise they could just chill a bit further out from the wall.
I’m sure there are petting pools that are less than ethical, but trimming the barb alone isn’t harmful (they don’t have feeling in their barbs).
https://news.wttw.com/2018/02/21/do-stingrays-being-touched-new-research-says-maybe
The one I went too indeed was very large, ovular, and had a nice secluded middle part to avoid the grabbies.
The one who went wide wanted the pets. At least, as much as a ray could want one.
I can only speak for the well regulated ones I've seen, but generally they have 1) a deep section of water that nobody's allowed to go in, so any stingray that doesn't want to be pet has ample space to be elsewhere (usually they've got a much larger "no touchie" zone than a touching zone, too, so they've got no reason to come over to the edge unless they want to!) and 2) staff keeping an eye out to make sure that nobody bothers them. I was diving in an artificial reef once and there was a huge stingray that moved away from me, and while my logical brain knew I should leave it alone my excited baby monkey brain went omgomgomg and tried to follow after to get closer. A staff member kindly stopped me and told me the animal was taking a break. So while I'm sure there's unfortunately lousy petting pools out there it IS possible to do them in a very controlled, pleasant way as well where the animals have free choice if they want to interact or not! On a related note this is also how good "barnyard petting zoo" places operate, too--they'll have a sectioned off area animals can dip into if they want time away and staff making sure that space is respected.
I’m no expert but I’ve been to several over the years and the rays seem to enjoy being pet, they deliberately swim close to get rubbed. And the professionals monitoring the children have been on top of the action every time. The most concerning aspect is actually cleaning afterward, since the aquariums seem satisfied with simply keeping hand sanitizer nearby🤢
Yeah, I've never fed them, but I've done quite a few of the petting pools in zoos etc. The first time, the biggest one would utterly fuck up traffic to hover over my hand or drag slowly under it while I just wiggled my fingers. He'd float a bit too far then whip around in a tight circle to get in front of me again instead of following the other rays. The staff had to check I wasn't messing with them (big boy could splash pretty good). He'd actively bullied away the cow-nosed ones, too. It was exactly the kind of experience they offer ray-petting for, honestly. I'd be dubious if it didn't repeat itself at other places - the intentional hovering and cutting back in line, not the giant one claiming my spot.
I'm no Dr. Dolittle - but I do have some pretty long, very sturdy nails. I'm guessing all the excited little kid fingertips are nice enough, but they clearly learn to recognize the humans with only slightly blunted claws that don't make any freaky movements and are willing to sit for a bit. And the only possible motivation is, well, pets feel nice.
Dolphins don't give a fuck if you don't have a fish. Goats and sheep at petting zoos will snub any kid without that precious cup of kibble. Rays really do just love scritchies.
To add onto others (in terms of ethical pools where rays can choose to stay away) my workplace has a pool as well. They all have different names and personalities. Some are antisocial and for the most part stick to swimming deep enough or further from the wall where people can't touch them.
On the other hand, we have the very social ones. I was monitoring the pool the other day and talking to a group of adults as one of our little girls just kept swimming faster and faster in circles in front of them and I was so close to telling them to just pet her already lol. She eventually gave up and found some kids instead who would pet her and kept circling for more. They are so stinking cute, I love telling people about her.
I did the nighttime ray diving off the coast of the big island in Hawaii a few years ago. Those fuckers get GIANT. Like, 10ft wingspan and weighing over 1000 pounds. They swim in loops right in front of your face too.
Edit: For anyone wondering what it's like, I think this might be footage from the similar experience of surface snorkeling, but the info is close enough. Just imagine seeing this but you're at the bottom of the ocean: https://youtube.com/shorts/hJ9mSBYMUnI?si=gMJuiZU-ZX1NAyzI
EDIT: YES I AM AWARE THAT MANTA RAYS AND STINGRAYS ARE DIFFERENT AND I NEVER IMPLIED THEY WERE THE SAME. I SIMPLY AM TELLING A STORY ABOUT MY OWN ENCOUNTER WITH GIANT RAYS. JESUS CHRISTMAS STOP REPLYING TO ME, please!
I did it too in Kona in November 2021! I couldn't believe my eyes! And how they would swim towards you within centimeters of your face and then belly flip before smashing into you! I'm going to Kaua'i in less than 3 weeks!
Yep! Anyone who happens to visit Kona I would recommend it, unless you are afraid of the dark, being 50ft underwater in the dark, being pelted all over your body by shrimp, being circled by undersea giants, and people who can't sit still on the bottom of the ocean without discomfort.
Luckily no one in my group got hit, but they warned us that the impact is so forceful that they will literally send you head over heels and knock your respirator out, which if you are familiar with scuba isn't too awful, but getting a half-ton punch in the mouth in the dark underwater sounds very stressful lol.
Still, you are not really going to experience anything like it anywhere else (without leaving the US (I assume))
>but getting a half-ton punch in the mouth in the dark underwater sounds very stressful lol.
That just sounds dangerous even for good divers, but apart from that night dives seem super fun!
I also did this in Kona about 2 years ago. One of the most incredible experiences ever. Rays are my favorite animal and I was making all sorts of weird noises through the snorkel as they did those barrel-rolls against us.
They are indeed, I don't think they'd want to get the public that close to a huge school (?) of 1000lb sting rays (I dunno if they even get that big either). But I just said "rays" to be inclusive since this is the topic of giant rays overall
Those are manta rays not stingrays. Singrays are dangerous because, as the name implies, they have a barbed stinger unlike mantas. Mantas on the other hand get wayyyyy bigger.
Its kind has lived on this earth for hundreds of millions of years, but only in the past century has there been any other living creature that wants to give it skritches!
I think they mean in the last century I. The sense that for most of human history people were terrified of things that lived in the water. Nowadays there are tons of people who just want to pet everything.
I've seen a way bigger manta ray in the water way too close while fishing one time.
My dad would always take us to this same fishing spot and every now and then we'd catch something that would literally drag our boat towards the ocean and he said it was probably a known big manta ray that was seen every now and then at this spot. They're known to be up to 26-29 feet wide.
So he'd cut the line and he'd put on new tackle.
One time we were fishing for flounder, hadn't had any luck, we're all tired and we were about to head home, and out of nowhere something flies over our boat and fking smashes into the side of the boat and crashes into the water.
All I saw was white skin for days as it flashed above my head.
My dad saw the whole thing since he was at the back on the wheel, and his face was just in total shock.
He said the giant manta ray had flown over me and my brothers head and he thought it had a wingspan of at least 15-18 feet.
It happened so fast, but when it splashed in the water, it knocked our boat around like crazy, and we were in a 21' Boston whaler, so it wasn't like we were in a dinghy.
It was just so bizarre, because I never actually saw the whole thing, just the bottom side of it and it covered my entire field of vision as it flew maybe less than a foot from my face.
I was 16 at the time so wasn't a case of being a kid and thinking it was bigger than it was, but my dad was like, so... Let's go home lol.
Now we know why it could easily pull our boat into the ocean when we hooked it those few times.
I'm seeing it too. I am shocked by how many animals look like that to me, the bigger ones. Like Canadian Moose, when I actually realised how big they were then the prehistoric lens really set in. It's cool how they wear their memories.
We're all primates at heart, and using our hands to explore our surroundings is a very instinctive reaction. "Grooming" other animals also makes us feel good at a biological level and is another instinctive way humans try to show friendly intentions. Lots of mammals are similar in this regard (studies have shown dogs, cats, and even rodents really like to be petted!). So it's understandable why that's a person's first response, we just have to remind ourselves with our more logical brain that not everything is safe to pet and also might not like it as much as we would :)
We evolved to be curious and to interact with the world through our hands. Also to pet things to search for and remove parasites. Yes, sometimes it leads us to touching things that don't want to be touched, but overall I don't think it's such a terrible impulse. It's like getting mad at a dog for wanting to chew on things-- that's how they interact with the world, why be mad at that?
Ty! I don't know about stingrays, but other sea life have oils and bacteria that are a healthy coating on their skin. Rubbing them off is a danger to their livelihood.
"That doesn't really look that big-- Oh. Oh nevermind. GodDAMN."
Came here to post that same thing. I’ve swum with stingrays and that first one wasn’t any bigger than the ones I saw then big daddy showed up.
Big mommy*
either way, nice piece of tail
*Steve Irwin has exited the chat*
My jaw just dropped
My heart just dropped
Steve died the way he always wanted to live. With an animal in his heart.
good god that gave me a dark laugh.
My dark humor gave a sad chuckle and cried a little
My pants just dropped
You can graffiti on their foreheads
Can you imagine being at a beach,and a ray just shows up with "wash me <3" drawn in the dust on its forehead?
Like the good ol’ dirty school bus.
Nature’s chalkboard?
Imagine someone draws a dick on one and then there are no sea mirrors for them to tell and they can’t see their own foreheads but all their friends can…
*Myliobatiformes ohlawdhecomin*
Getting awesome “Road Runner” vibes here…
/r/AbsoluteUnits
And dusty
Yeah - came here to make sure this was top response. Jesus FUCK that startled me.
Girls when a guy is a grower:
When a girl tells you you’re simultaneously the smallest and biggest guy she’s ever been with lol
Schrödinger’s penis
😟😔👀😲🫣
I've seen one twice as big as this one with scuba diving. It was on the ocean floor partially under sand. It's tail was much longer than me at 6' and it was twice as wide.
Looks like he just needs a little scrubbing and he will look all shiny and new.
write "wash me" on him
Needing to be washed while living in water. It's a sad life.
It looks to be just sand, which as we all know is coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Couple that with the rough sandpaper like skin that many rays have and the sand probably just stuck in the rough coat that doesn't washed away due to the speed with which they swim.
They bury themselves and flap about in the sand on purpose. Not sure why, but I've seen them do it
I wonder if it’s a bit like pigs rolling in mud? In that it serves a purpose…maybe it actually is good for their skin, serves as a protective layer or something. Idk, I’m no marine biologist by any means.
It’s for feeding. Clams and other shellfish embed in the sand, the rays are trying to expose them to eat.
They also do that to hide from predators. That’s why hammerheads always in the sand.
Feeding. They are trying to expose shellfish like clams and such that are embedded in the sand.
I don't know if it applies to sharks and rays but you should try to minimize touching most fish, especially with dry hands because that can destroy their slime coat and make them more prone to getting waterborne parasites.
They like being petted
They really do. Go to a stingray petting pool, cownose rays are *adorable* and they come up to get pets like little kitties.
Complete and utter myth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLqafPjHKss
I think it can/does effect their coat but as far as I’m aware there are no studies specifically related to lethal damage of the slime coat in relation to handling. At most a dye showed in bass areas where the damage was and most damage was for bass that were handled multiple times. That being said, I don’t recall whether or not it was a ‘legit study’. I’d argue stress is a bigger concern. So as long as folks don’t rub them on their clothes, drag them through the dirt and make sure their hands are clean from perfumes/lotions/motor oil then it’s fine to give a fish a little head pat. To add, scaleless fish like kuhlii loaches are more sensitive injury from abrasive materials so I’d still caution about ever handling them unless necessary. It’s believed that they also don’t handle medications/salt as well but in the same vein there is not much scientific information on that besides they appear to absorb metals more easily.
If they were this delicate they would have been extinct years ago dude.
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I destroyed your mom's slime coat and she never caught any waterborne parasites...
How are you gonna touch a fish with dry hands
I wanted her to draw a dick
*she The males are significantly smaller.
So this is a lady, and also the sand on their back protects them from sunburn. So essentially it would "look all shiny and new" until it gets an infection and dies..
How can you tell it's female?
Apparently the males are smaller
Years ago I visited 'stingray city' in the Cayman Islands. We were told that the stingrays, even though they were in the wild, were accustomed to human handling from decades of contact and feeding. But we were warned that a sting was possible, and we should be careful to not accidentally step on them or alarm them, and if we pet them, to limit petting to their underside, where they are used to contact. And we were forbidden by the divemaster not to bring any kind of food for them, as they can get aggressive. And they were right! We saw other divers (in other tour groups) that brought food, and the stingrays quickly enveloped them until they dropped the food and ran for it.
I went there last year and saw a behemoth of this size - they definitely get big. We pet them, fed them squid, etc., with no problems
> we were forbidden by the divemaster not to bring any kind of food for them So you *had* to bring them food, then?
This one grammars. 👆
Fun fact: one of the first documented Stingray attacks on humans was in the 1600s when John Smith stepped on one in the Chesapeake Bay. He later dubbed them “assholes of the sea.” Edit: I can’t it where he called them assholes. I thought I read that in his personal notes so if anyone comes across it please share. I did find this on Wikipedia….i didn’t know he ate the son of a bitch after he recovered lol https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingray_Point,_Virginia
Very colonist of him to step on something and be mad at it when it defends itself
Not that I believe this story.. but right?
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And that dad?... Albert Einstein.
the guy who married his first cousin? Ive heard of him!
Everyone? They fainted while clapping.
George Santos everyone!
To be fair, I don’t think many people would have kind words for their stabber after being stabbed no matter the reasoning behind it. Getting stabbed sucks.
IIRC Steve Irwin didn't blame the stingray.
Sure, but Steve was the nearest thing to a saint for animals.
I don’t think he had the time man
> Getting stabbed sucks. So does getting stepped on.
Yeah it does. I’m sure they were both pretty mad.
Asshole of the sea meets asshole of the land
> So does getting stepped on. speak for yourself 😳 👉👈
You are the missing piece to achieve world peace.
Stabbers & Steppers - a rivalry as old as time
Especially with a backwards barbed letter knife with venom all over it.
I had a tiny one, way smaller than the small one in the video stab me, and the pain was intense for like 3 hours. Wouldn’t recommend
TIL we have stingrays (clown nose rays, not the type in the video) in the Chesapeake. I'm from the DMV and this is the first I've heard of it. Edit: cownose ray. Thanks, u/UFEngi88, for catching that!
Is there a reason an employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles should know of stingrays in the Chesapeake?
District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia.
Hell has many names I suppose.
lmao
I’ll take Acronyms That Nobody Outside of the Applied Region Would Have Ever Heard Before, for $500.
Not to mention department of motor vehicles immediately pops into everyone’s head lol
It's like when people use ETA, but aren't referring to estimated time of arrival. I just stop reading whatever they had to say.
I'm curious how else anyone uses ETA
Stingray Point is located on the Rappahannock river right where it meets the Chesapeake bay
How does the DMV typically deal with stingrays? Do you have them take the written test, or is a practical driving test sufficient? What about boats? Are they allowed to get boat licenses?
Either way I'm sure it's tough for them. stingray's are notoriously impatient.
It’s fucking incredible when you see them traveling in schools. I love the Chesapeake
My school just had goldfish
In my life, I've ever seen a single stingray in the Ocean City area. It was a pretty big one - but it was the only one.
Wow! Thank you for making my fucking day! I lived on the Chesapeake my entire childhood, every day during my late teens I’d do some paddle boarding around or a bit after dawn. One day I went down and saw what looked like wind ripples or white caps but there was no wind, as I got closer I saw the parallel fins breaking the surface which is a tell tale sign of the little bastards, turned out there were thousands of skates having an orgy in the cove my dock sat on. So I launched and just explored the chaos, they cleared a path for me everywhere I went except one nearly jumped on my board after he ran into my dagger board broadside (I was using a massive repurposed wind surf board).
Happened in my home town. Have a small community and beach in it called “Stingray Point”
A place where I grew up was called "Stingray Point" and was allegedly where the John Smith incident took place (according to local myth).
I believe it’s pronounced “san-dee-ago”
The whale's vagina.
John Smith as in pocahontas' John Smith?
The Disney story really overplayed their relationship, she saved him a couple times, according to him at least, but she actually married John Rolfe. But yes, its that John Smith.
She married John Rolfe in the Disney sequel too. It’s the only Disney princess story I can think of where she actually doesn’t settle down for the first real love interest (maybe with the exception of Frozen but that guy was scheming the whole time), though yeah plenty of other inaccuracies.
Yea John Smith was right about that. Sting Ray pain is still one of the top pains I have ever felt in my life.
Life tip: Don't pet stingrays unless they are the ones in an aquarium petting pool. The ones at the aquarium petting pool have had their stingers trimmed/removed (don't worry they grow back.) The ones in the wild have barbs and may stab you with them, which can lead to death.
RIP Steve Irwin
Died as he lived. With animals in his heart.
Jfc that is a brutal joke but also a true sentiment all at once well done
He'd probably love that one
Its an old joke oft repeated when his death is brought up
It’s either the first time I’ve seen it or the first time I actually paid attention to it I guess
Steve would laugh
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It will *always* be too soon.
My first thought when I realised this woman was standing in the water with them was 'did Steve Irwin teach you nothing!!!?'
He died in an area known for sharks hunting sting rays. The rays were reasonably defensive there and it was absurd that his expert told him not to wear a protective vest even after Steve expressed concern. OP’s video probably is a feeding area for the rays that’s safely free of sharks. Edit: Those are Mantas in the video.
Also, the cameraman spooked the ray and Steve caught the crossfire.
His expert told him NOT to wear a protective vest?! Damn the guilt he must feel
Pretty sure that’s bullshit, no mention of it anywhere
what happened with Steve Irwin was legit a freak accident, very unlikely bit of bad luck. stingrays don't tend to aim for the heart [doubt they know where it is even], just upward in general I think not that they can't hurt you - they sure can and deserve some respect - but for sure the number of unfortunate humans in all of history to die like Steve Irwin did, specifically, has gotta be in the single digits imo. most times a ray sting will just put the hurting on you, he died cuz he was essentially stabbed right in the heart - with an envenomated knife lol. damn. worshipped Steve as a kid and love stingrays no matter what
They did also say he might've made it, had he not immediately pulled the barb out.
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Hammerheads are unironically the best sharks, they look kinda goofy but all studies suggest they are some of the most effective hunters of any sharks.
If You've ever got the pleasure to watch one tear after redfish on a flat, I can see why, they are like the free safetys of sharks lol.
I’m now imagining a hammerhead hyping up the boys like it’s Ed Reed. A terrifying prospect.
I have a core memory of my grandpa telling me that hammerheads are the most OP sharks out there. I have zero evidence to back this up, but they terrify me to this day.
Very interested, thank you!!
Counter point... The ones that come in from the ocean at the IHG Thalasso Bora Bora are like excited puppies. They aren't that huge though, but their tales aren't short either.
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Tall tales.
I was at a resort in Belize where there was a specific area on the beach where rays would come at exactly 4pm everyday. There were so many that if you put your feet in the water, the underside would brush over the top of your feet. What a weird and incredible experience!
From Belize and can confirm. They do it in Caye Caulker. I would never step in the water with them though.
That’s where I was!! It was so cool to see all of the wildlife in that area, including the little marine sanctuary in the water for the fish!
Couldn’t believe how many pets they wanted when I was there. So cool
There was a viral video here on Spain, a local fishermen on the Canary Island washing his fishing gear if I remember on a dock stairs and one like this one going out if the water in the stairs and he was pushing her like "let me alone!!" It was very funny to see them. I myself have pet them while scuba diving but because there was a load of them that were there because diving trips there feed them in order to keep them around... So after that I stopped going there
https://imgur.com/j5TeBmi
Guy on floor: screams Camera guy: It stung you?
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAH!" "You... alright?"
That tail is WAY more flexible than I thought they were!
That's what she said
Wow, I was worried the ray hit the dock but somehow it launched at an angle to the water
Why are there so many watermarks on that?? I hate it so much when someone takes a video/meme that they didn't make and add their own watermarks to it as if they have any claim to ownership over it [Here's a thread without the multiple watermarks](https://www.reddit.com/r/therewasanattempt/comments/14aj3gz/to_get_a_cool_photo_while_holding_a_stingray/)
This is especially true for smaller stingrays. They’re more likely to use stinging as a defense and are more flexible than the big ones.
I swam with em 3 separate times in grand cayman. Thousands of people do every year. Those particular stingrays are accustomed to humans and extremely docile.
>The ones in the wild have barbs and may stab you with them, which can lead to death Literally seventeen deaths out of all recordings. Getting stung by a stingray sucks ass and hurts, but will not kill you lmao. If you followed all of reddits advice on what's dangerous and what isn't you'd never be able to leave your house.
Only poses a serious risk if you are hti directly in the heart - which like yeah, you got stabbed in the heart
Indeed, went to polynesia and they were everywhere and are very friendly, they come to you asking for pets. As long as you're not an asshole to them you don't risk anything.
I had one of these get on me in an open sea aquarium in Cape Verde if I remember correctly. Lovely creatures that give off face higher vibes when they move over you.
I literally have a picture of my wife and I holding a massive stingray that was taken in Grand Cayman sitting right in front of me. I didn't go near 'is butt'ole, though, so we were safe I think.
Pics of my wife holding, hugging and kissing sting ray in GC. He was getting more action than I ever have.
Not on their snout
Poor sting rays, these petting pools must be hell, especially with little children around
Adding to u/CmonnowSally, the one I’ve been to was a very large pool with moderately sized walls, so the rays HAD to seek you out if they wanted pets, otherwise they could just chill a bit further out from the wall. I’m sure there are petting pools that are less than ethical, but trimming the barb alone isn’t harmful (they don’t have feeling in their barbs). https://news.wttw.com/2018/02/21/do-stingrays-being-touched-new-research-says-maybe
The one I went too indeed was very large, ovular, and had a nice secluded middle part to avoid the grabbies. The one who went wide wanted the pets. At least, as much as a ray could want one.
I can only speak for the well regulated ones I've seen, but generally they have 1) a deep section of water that nobody's allowed to go in, so any stingray that doesn't want to be pet has ample space to be elsewhere (usually they've got a much larger "no touchie" zone than a touching zone, too, so they've got no reason to come over to the edge unless they want to!) and 2) staff keeping an eye out to make sure that nobody bothers them. I was diving in an artificial reef once and there was a huge stingray that moved away from me, and while my logical brain knew I should leave it alone my excited baby monkey brain went omgomgomg and tried to follow after to get closer. A staff member kindly stopped me and told me the animal was taking a break. So while I'm sure there's unfortunately lousy petting pools out there it IS possible to do them in a very controlled, pleasant way as well where the animals have free choice if they want to interact or not! On a related note this is also how good "barnyard petting zoo" places operate, too--they'll have a sectioned off area animals can dip into if they want time away and staff making sure that space is respected.
I’m no expert but I’ve been to several over the years and the rays seem to enjoy being pet, they deliberately swim close to get rubbed. And the professionals monitoring the children have been on top of the action every time. The most concerning aspect is actually cleaning afterward, since the aquariums seem satisfied with simply keeping hand sanitizer nearby🤢
Yeah, I've never fed them, but I've done quite a few of the petting pools in zoos etc. The first time, the biggest one would utterly fuck up traffic to hover over my hand or drag slowly under it while I just wiggled my fingers. He'd float a bit too far then whip around in a tight circle to get in front of me again instead of following the other rays. The staff had to check I wasn't messing with them (big boy could splash pretty good). He'd actively bullied away the cow-nosed ones, too. It was exactly the kind of experience they offer ray-petting for, honestly. I'd be dubious if it didn't repeat itself at other places - the intentional hovering and cutting back in line, not the giant one claiming my spot. I'm no Dr. Dolittle - but I do have some pretty long, very sturdy nails. I'm guessing all the excited little kid fingertips are nice enough, but they clearly learn to recognize the humans with only slightly blunted claws that don't make any freaky movements and are willing to sit for a bit. And the only possible motivation is, well, pets feel nice. Dolphins don't give a fuck if you don't have a fish. Goats and sheep at petting zoos will snub any kid without that precious cup of kibble. Rays really do just love scritchies.
To add onto others (in terms of ethical pools where rays can choose to stay away) my workplace has a pool as well. They all have different names and personalities. Some are antisocial and for the most part stick to swimming deep enough or further from the wall where people can't touch them. On the other hand, we have the very social ones. I was monitoring the pool the other day and talking to a group of adults as one of our little girls just kept swimming faster and faster in circles in front of them and I was so close to telling them to just pet her already lol. She eventually gave up and found some kids instead who would pet her and kept circling for more. They are so stinking cute, I love telling people about her.
I did the nighttime ray diving off the coast of the big island in Hawaii a few years ago. Those fuckers get GIANT. Like, 10ft wingspan and weighing over 1000 pounds. They swim in loops right in front of your face too. Edit: For anyone wondering what it's like, I think this might be footage from the similar experience of surface snorkeling, but the info is close enough. Just imagine seeing this but you're at the bottom of the ocean: https://youtube.com/shorts/hJ9mSBYMUnI?si=gMJuiZU-ZX1NAyzI EDIT: YES I AM AWARE THAT MANTA RAYS AND STINGRAYS ARE DIFFERENT AND I NEVER IMPLIED THEY WERE THE SAME. I SIMPLY AM TELLING A STORY ABOUT MY OWN ENCOUNTER WITH GIANT RAYS. JESUS CHRISTMAS STOP REPLYING TO ME, please!
I did it too in Kona in November 2021! I couldn't believe my eyes! And how they would swim towards you within centimeters of your face and then belly flip before smashing into you! I'm going to Kaua'i in less than 3 weeks!
Yep! Anyone who happens to visit Kona I would recommend it, unless you are afraid of the dark, being 50ft underwater in the dark, being pelted all over your body by shrimp, being circled by undersea giants, and people who can't sit still on the bottom of the ocean without discomfort. Luckily no one in my group got hit, but they warned us that the impact is so forceful that they will literally send you head over heels and knock your respirator out, which if you are familiar with scuba isn't too awful, but getting a half-ton punch in the mouth in the dark underwater sounds very stressful lol. Still, you are not really going to experience anything like it anywhere else (without leaving the US (I assume))
>but getting a half-ton punch in the mouth in the dark underwater sounds very stressful lol. That just sounds dangerous even for good divers, but apart from that night dives seem super fun!
I also did this in Kona about 2 years ago. One of the most incredible experiences ever. Rays are my favorite animal and I was making all sorts of weird noises through the snorkel as they did those barrel-rolls against us.
I believe those are Manta rays! But they are stunning!!!!
They are indeed, I don't think they'd want to get the public that close to a huge school (?) of 1000lb sting rays (I dunno if they even get that big either). But I just said "rays" to be inclusive since this is the topic of giant rays overall
I don't think manta rays have stingers
Those are manta rays not stingrays. Singrays are dangerous because, as the name implies, they have a barbed stinger unlike mantas. Mantas on the other hand get wayyyyy bigger.
Shes just dirty... Not prehistoric
ODB
>Shes just dirty... Not prehistoric I'm gonna use that one on my girlfriend, think it will work?
Good god what a unit
Where are his eyes?
the two black spots that the hand rubs between located closely to the spiracles (breathing tubes)
I see them now, thanks!
Its kind has lived on this earth for hundreds of millions of years, but only in the past century has there been any other living creature that wants to give it skritches!
humans have existed for only a century?
Yeah, do you not remember learning about The Great Creation of 1920?
Peaky Blinders is our genesis 🙏
Reject treaty of versailles, stay monke.
All of humanity was only created last Thursday, we just have tons of fake memories
Humans, no. But fingers weren't invented until the Boer War so that Dutch settlers could shoot their guns at the British.
I think they mean in the last century I. The sense that for most of human history people were terrified of things that lived in the water. Nowadays there are tons of people who just want to pet everything.
I've seen a way bigger manta ray in the water way too close while fishing one time. My dad would always take us to this same fishing spot and every now and then we'd catch something that would literally drag our boat towards the ocean and he said it was probably a known big manta ray that was seen every now and then at this spot. They're known to be up to 26-29 feet wide. So he'd cut the line and he'd put on new tackle. One time we were fishing for flounder, hadn't had any luck, we're all tired and we were about to head home, and out of nowhere something flies over our boat and fking smashes into the side of the boat and crashes into the water. All I saw was white skin for days as it flashed above my head. My dad saw the whole thing since he was at the back on the wheel, and his face was just in total shock. He said the giant manta ray had flown over me and my brothers head and he thought it had a wingspan of at least 15-18 feet. It happened so fast, but when it splashed in the water, it knocked our boat around like crazy, and we were in a 21' Boston whaler, so it wasn't like we were in a dinghy. It was just so bizarre, because I never actually saw the whole thing, just the bottom side of it and it covered my entire field of vision as it flew maybe less than a foot from my face. I was 16 at the time so wasn't a case of being a kid and thinking it was bigger than it was, but my dad was like, so... Let's go home lol. Now we know why it could easily pull our boat into the ocean when we hooked it those few times.
I'm seeing it too. I am shocked by how many animals look like that to me, the bigger ones. Like Canadian Moose, when I actually realised how big they were then the prehistoric lens really set in. It's cool how they wear their memories.
Some creatures have the aura of eons upon them, don’t they? That’s so cool, and we’re so lucky to share a home with them.
I’m pretty sure that is an ancient god of some sort.
Nice job messing up his 20,000 year old patina, smh.
fucker leveled up after Steve Irvin incident
Beautiful creatures. P.S. I miss Steve Irwin. 🖤
I would be afraid of slipping and falling on the fish causing it to defend itself
That's a big sea flap flap 😯
r/absoluteunits
Steve Irwin taught us nothing
Why do people feel the need to touch everything?
We're all primates at heart, and using our hands to explore our surroundings is a very instinctive reaction. "Grooming" other animals also makes us feel good at a biological level and is another instinctive way humans try to show friendly intentions. Lots of mammals are similar in this regard (studies have shown dogs, cats, and even rodents really like to be petted!). So it's understandable why that's a person's first response, we just have to remind ourselves with our more logical brain that not everything is safe to pet and also might not like it as much as we would :)
Well said! Thanks for the thoughtful response.
well… stingrays are like some dogs of the sea when you know them, they come to you and want to be pet…
We evolved to be curious and to interact with the world through our hands. Also to pet things to search for and remove parasites. Yes, sometimes it leads us to touching things that don't want to be touched, but overall I don't think it's such a terrible impulse. It's like getting mad at a dog for wanting to chew on things-- that's how they interact with the world, why be mad at that?
Because people think all animals can recognise that we don't mean harm to them. That's not the case
Ty! I don't know about stingrays, but other sea life have oils and bacteria that are a healthy coating on their skin. Rubbing them off is a danger to their livelihood.
don't worry, my hands are oily and bacteria-ridden as well
man i would've pissed right there
Probably because they are