Stingrays at SEA LIFE

SEA LIFE Arizona is home to more than 6 species of stingray including Southern Rays, the largest in the Aquarium. These rays can grow up to 160 pounds and are found in our Ocean Exhibit.

Just like sharks, rays don’t have a bony skeleton. Instead, their skeleton is made of cartilage (just like our nose and ears!). This makes them lighter so it is easier for rays to glide through the ocean.

Stingrays get their name from the stinging barb at the base of their tail. When they feel threatened stingrays can whip up their tail to puncture their pursuer with their spiny, venomous barb. Once they have done this it takes a while for a new one to grow back, so they only use it as a last resort.

In our Bay of Rays, you'll see our happy Cownose stingrays and Blue Spot stingrays as they glide along the sea bed. They also like to bury themselves in the sand! This is a behavior they use in the wild to hide from predators like Great Hammerhead Sharks and Killer Whales.