The barb, coated witih a poisonous sheath, introduces a painful neurotoxin into the wound. This gives the buried stingray enough time to escape. Medical attention is necessary since fragments of the stingray spine may still be embedded in the flesh. An x-ray may be needed to determine the extent of injury. The females are usually larger than the males.
Rays have an acute sense of smell and touch.
Stingrays are not aggressive and will only attack when threatened. Stingrays are bottom feeders. Stingrays are related to sharks and skates because they are composed completely of cartilage. In ancient cultures, the stingray spine or barb was used to make knives, spear tips, and needles. The southern stingray is the largest and most common stingray found along the U.S. coastline.