Flying through the water

A group of stingray is called a “fever,” which is an interesting choice. Stingray can be as small as the palm of your hand or as big as 14 feet long! (That includes tail.) Speaking of tails, that’s where a stingray’s stinger is. Stingers grow like fingernails, but can be barbed, serrated, or razor-sharp.

Stingray are very flat, which makes it easy for them to hide on the ocean floor, where they bury themselves in the sand. The most common reason for them to sting a human is because they get stepped on!

In Finding Nemo, Nemo’s teacher is a ray.

Ankle spurs - for males only

You may have heard that the platypus is an egg laying mammal, but you may not know it is also venomous like the scorpion! But only the males come equipped with poison. Their venom is located in ankle spurs on the hind feet.

A platypus also stores fat in its tail. This is a trait is shares with the Tasmanian Devil (no, they’re not just a cartoon!) Both of these critters live in Australia—another place I’d like to visit.


JJ

Watch out for that stinger!

Yesterday, we talked about meerkats. Did you know that meerkats EAT scorpions? They do take off the stinger first.

Scorpions, like spiders, have 8 legs. (I didn't know that!) There are about 90 different types of scorpions in the US, with 86 species living west of the Mississippi River. They are mostly common in parts of Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma.

Some people actually choose to have scorpions as pets. Guess you have to be careful not to get stung! I think I’ll pass . . .

JJ