Stingrays by Maria McDearmon

There are five different groups of animals with vertebrates Mammals Fish Reptiles Birds Amphibians

Stingrays have certain characteristics that make them a fish. Here are some of the attributes: Stingrays are cold-blooded. They live in the water all their lives. They breathe oxygen from water through special organs called gills.

A Sting Rays Appearance A stingray looks like a diamond. It has a tail with a pointed end that can sting you. It is how it protects itself. The color of a stingray is gray or brown.

A Stingray’s Adaptation My animal has adapted to his environment. A sting ray looks like a flat diamond. They hide under sand from their predators. Their color helps them hide because it blends into the sand.

Stingrays are fish! Stingrays are a type of fish. They do not have bones in their bodies. They have cartilage. It is what we have in our noses. Their gray color is different from female or male. The biggest ray is 22 feet and weighs many tons.

A Stingray’s Diet Sting rays are carnivores, or meat eaters. Depending on the type of stingray, they like to eat worms, fish, squid, shrimp, crabs, and lobsters. Some rays eat clams, mussels, oysters, and snails.

A Stingray’s Habitats Stingrays live in seas all over the world. They live in salt water. Stingrays like swimming and hiding on sandy or muddy bottom surfaces. They like to hide under the sand so they can sneak up to their prey.

A Diagram of a Stingray

Their tails help protect them. Many rays have spines on their tail which can poison other animals when stung. That tail can also sting people when we step on them. The poison hurts.

Interesting Facts A motionless ray on the bottom looks harmless. When he is left alone, it usually is, but don’t kick it or he will sting you with his tail. That is why we do the “Sting Ray Shuffle”.

I hope you learned a lot about stingrays. I hope the next time you go to the beach make sure you that you do the stingray shuffle. I hope you liked my power point. Reference: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/rays/Rayprintout.shtml

Sting Rays by Maria McDearmon