Discovered a new giant stingray

Recently an Australian scientist announced that the giant stingray that scientists still call is essentially two species separate from the behavior and different habitats. The more common stingray species are smaller in size and also easier to observe. They often appear near the coast.

However, the second species of larger size is still not well known. They often avoid contact with humans, as if they are likely to migrate to large swarms. It still carries the evolutionary remnant of the spine and harmless prongs on the tail.

Two species of stingrays that are still unnamed have distinctive features that are quite different from the unique colors and structures.

Andrea Marshal of Queesland University, Australia presented a new discovery last week in Montreal at the first symposium consisting of stingray experts.

Charming giant monster

According to an Australian scientist last July, the giant stingray that scientists still call is essentially two species separate from the behavior and different habitats.The more common stingray species are smaller in size and also easier to observe.They often appear near the coast.However, the second species of larger size is still not well known.They often avoid contact with humans, as if they are likely to migrate to large swarms.(Photo: Andrea Marshall)

Giant stingray is a graceful animal in the rays family. It can weigh up to 4,400 pounds (2,000 kilograms).

Giant drowns with wingspan of 25 feet (about 8 meters). It is harmless and does not have any poisonous spines like its cousins, including some stingray species.

Australian scientist Steve Irwin was killed by the poisonous thorn of stingray.

While both giant rays are reigning at the high seas, they seem to have different lifestyles.

Smaller rays are familiar with divers in Hawaii, the Maldive Islands, Mozambique, Australia and Japan. They are year-round residents of certain marine areas such as coral reefs.

Scientists suspect that the bigger and more mysterious stingray is a migratory animal that has wandered into the world's oceans.

Lucky place

According to Marshall, discovering a new species is the unexpected result of 5 years of hard work because of a little luck.

Marshall's research was funded by the Swiss Relief Fund. She said: 'It is fortunate that Mozambique is the only place where we can observe both species living together on the same coral reef.'

Although most of Marshall's time was underwater, she also spent hours collecting data around the world to find evidence that two rays were different.

Marshall bought evidence from the AND lab and fishing villages in Indonesia where giant migratory rays are often captured.

Rachel Graham of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Punta Gorda, Belize, is very impressed with Marshall's research - one of the longest-lasting studies ever done about rays.

She said: 'We are extremely interested in it. Research really goes deep and I think most people are convinced. '

Conservation challenges

The discovery of the new stingray will bring more challenges to those looking for ways to protect vulnerable rays but have a slow reproductive cycle.

The smaller sized stingrays are threatened by their restricted living areas.

Marshall said: 'If someone comes to the coast or the islands and catches fish, the giant rays will be wiped out within a year or two.'

'This will cause regional catastrophic disaster that could happen in the Gulf of California'.

Migratory rays also have their own challenges. They do not have any boundaries, so efforts to protect them need to have complex coordination between many different countries and organizations.

Marshall said: 'Both stingrays have to deal with various issues related to conservation management. We need to understand the risk for each species'.