If you’ve ever been to the beach or an aquarium, you may have witnessed stingrays spectacularly breaching the water’s surface and launching themselves briefly into the air before splashing back down. This impressive behavior immediately raises the question: Why do stingrays jump?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Stingrays most commonly jump out of the water to escape predators, remove parasites, communicate with other stingrays, and express excitement or distress.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the main reasons stingrays jump in further detail, including the science and research behind this fascinating behavior. We’ll also highlight some of the most impressive stingray breaches caught on camera.
Whether you’re a marine biologist, casual ocean observer, or simply stingray enthusiast, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of these majestic creatures of the sea and their impressive aerial talents.
Escaping Predators
Sharks and Other Large Fish
Stingrays are prey for several larger marine predators. Sharks are one of the main predators of stingrays. Species like tiger sharks, bull sharks, and great hammerhead sharks commonly feed on stingrays.
The sharks use their superior sense of smell and electroreception to detect stingrays buried under sand. Once detected, the sharks use their powerful jaws and teeth to capture and kill the stingrays. Other large predatory fish like groupers, barracudas, and moray eels also prey on stingrays.
To avoid predators, stingrays exhibit multiple defensive adaptations. Their flat bodies allow them to easily camouflage and bury themselves under sand or mud, hiding their presence. Stingrays have electroreceptive organs called ampullae of Lorenzini that can detect predators from a distance.
This gives stingrays early warning to flee or bury themselves before the predator gets close. When caught by predators, stingrays can use their venomous tail spines to inflict painful stings, allowing them to escape.
Orcas
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are highly intelligent and coordinated predators that occasionally feed on stingrays. Groups of orcas have been observed working together to herd and trap stingrays in shallow water.
They use waves created by their movements to knock stingrays off the seafloor and expose them. Once exposed, the orcas grab the stingrays in their jaws and toss them in the air repeatedly until the stingray expires.
This coordinated pack hunting technique allows orcas to successfully prey on stingrays despite the dangers posed by their venomous tails. Interestingly, there are no confirmed reports of orcas ever being stung or injured by the stingray barbs during these hunts.
This is likely because of their size advantage and strategy of attacking from above. To avoid orcas, stingrays tend to avoid areas orcas are known to frequent. Their electroreception also helps warn them of approaching orcas.
Humans
Humans can be major predators of stingrays primarily through overfishing. Many stingray species are unintentionally caught as bycatch by commercial fisheries targeting more profitable fish species. Others are intentionally captured for food, especially in Southeast Asia and Mexico where stingray wings are considered a delicacy.
Some species like manta rays are targeted for their gill plates which are used in Chinese medicine. The high demand coupled with their slow reproductive rates has led to overfishing and population declines in several stingray species.
To escape capture, stingrays often abort fishing lines or avoid baited hooks once the presence of humans is detected. When brought aboard boats, their stings pose a hazard to fishermen. Public education about their ecological importance and the establishment of marine preserves help provide some protection from overexploitation.
Removing Parasites and Pests
Stingrays can pick up a variety of parasites and pests that live on or inside their bodies. Here are some of the main reasons stingrays may jump out of the water to try and dislodge these unwanted guests:
Getting Rid of Attached Leeches
Leeches are parasitic worms that attach themselves to stingray bodies and feed on their blood. Having a leech attached can be highly irritating for a stingray. Jumping out of the water allows the stingray to use gravity and its own body weight to try and dislodge the attached leeches.
Shaking Off Isopods
Isopods are small crustaceans that can infest the gills and mouths of stingrays. An infestation of isopods can impair breathing and feeding. By launching out of the water, stingrays are able to vigorously shake their bodies to try and dislodge the isopods.
Removing Attached Lampreys
Lampreys are jawless, eel-like parasites that use their suction cup mouths to attach to stingrays and feed on bodily fluids. They can cause significant blood loss and lesions. Jumping clears the surface of the water so lampreys have nothing to hold onto and get detached by the stingray’s motions.
Dislodging Attached Barnacles
Barnacles will opportunistically attach themselves to stingrays, forming crusty clusters on the skin. This can impair swimming and irritation. The force of hitting the water after breaching can knock off some of these barnacle clusters.
Escaping Shark Attacks
Though not a parasite or pest, sharks are a common predator of stingrays. If ambushed by a shark, rapidly leaping out of the water can be an evasive maneuver that helps the stingray get away from the shark’s jaws.
Communication
Mating Displays
When looking to find a mate, stingrays engage in elaborate courtship rituals to get each other’s attention. Male stingrays may follow a female around for days, using unique body postures and movements to show interest.
For example, the male Atlantic stingray does an aerial display where he follows closely behind the female near the water’s surface, propelling himself out of the water in high, splashing jumps. This impressive behavior demonstrates his strength and athleticism to the female.
Some rays also use color displays to attract mates. Male bat eagle rays have white undersides that contrast with their dark backs, allowing their bright white bellies to stand out and catch the female’s eye as they circle each other.
Research shows that female cownose rays even prefer males with a certain color pattern on their backs, selecting mates with the darkest, most defined patterns.
Territorial Displays
Rays can also be very territorial, especially around mating and birthing grounds. When defending their space, stingrays perform threatening postures like arching up their bodies to appear larger or whipping their barbed tails. Some species make loud sounds by snapping their jaws as a warning display.
These behaviors communicate to other rays that this area is occupied and trespassers will be stung if they come closer.
In addition, male round rays bite the edges of a female’s pectoral fins as she rests on the seafloor. Scientists believe this demonstrates his ability to protect prime mating territory. Though it may seem aggressive to us, the female round ray likely understands this nibbling ritual as a sign that the male can fend off competitors and provide safety in their shared courtship space.
Distress Signals
When distressed or under attack, stingrays will often jump entirely out of the water in a last ditch attempt to escape danger. Breach displays serve as a distress call, alerting other rays in the area that a threat is present so they can also flee or hide.
For example, cownose rays leap up to 6 feet in the air when caught on fishing lines. This dramatic aerial display signals to the ray’s companions that trouble is afoot so they can exit the area. Similarly, nearshore species like bat rays rocket launch themselves over predatory seals or sea lions in a desperate bid to avoid being eaten during these surprise ambush attacks.
Play and Excitement
Stingrays are fascinating creatures that love to play and get excited just like humans do! Here are some of the main reasons stingrays may jump out of the water:
Having Fun and Enjoying Themselves
Stingrays will often breach the water just for fun or excitement. Just like dolphins leaping in the air, stingrays enjoy propelling themselves out of the water and making a big splash when they land. They are intelligent creatures and this appears to be a form of play and enjoyment for them.
Stingrays have good control over their bodies and can jump surprisingly high out of the water. Some theories suggest they feel exhilarated by the feeling of flying through the air for a brief moment before splashing back down into their aquatic home.
Communication and Social Interaction
Breaching the water surface also allows stingrays to communicate and interact with each other. The loud splashing sound can act as an announcement to other stingrays in the area that there is a chance to play.
Seeing another ray take to the air often encourages others to follow and join in the fun. It’s a great way for stingrays to be social and bond together.
Expression of Strength and Vitality
Jumping clear of the water requires great strength, agility and energy. By leaping out of the ocean, stingrays demonstrate how fit, powerful and full of life they are.
It may also act as a display to impress potential mates. If a male stingray can jump really high it shows females how strong, athletic and genetically fit he is.
Trying to Detach Parasites or Remoras
Sometimes stingrays can breach unexpectedly because they are trying to dislodge parasites or remoras (suckerfish) attached to their bodies. By propelling upward with great speed and force, stingrays may be attempting to detach unwelcome passengers from their backs and wings.
The impact as they hit the water can help shake off pesky organisms that may be trying to get a free ride. This allows stingrays to keep their bodies clean and free of hangers-on.
Escaping from Predators
A lightning-fast vertical leap can also be an escape strategy for stingrays. By quickly arching up and out of the water, stingrays can evade sharks, large fish, and other predators trying to eat them.
The element of surprise and rapid change of direction makes the stingray harder to catch. This evasive maneuver can give them a better chance of getting away unharmed.
Other Possible Reasons
Navigation
Stingrays occasionally breach the water’s surface as a means of navigation. Their eyesight is quite poor, so they utilize smell, touch, and electroreception to find prey and mates. Breaching momentarily allows stingrays to get their bearings and reorient themselves before continuing onward.
This aerial vantage point gives them a broader sensory scope to locate food sources like mollusks and crustaceans buried in the sand by detecting subtle electrical impulses. By breaching, stingrays expand their navigational range to travel greater distances and minimize aimless meandering.
Thermoregulation
Given their lack of sweat glands and fur, stingrays have limited physiological means to shed excess heat. Breaching gives them brief access to cooler air temperatures above the water’s surface. This momentary conductive relief is similar to when overheated dogs pant to reduce body temperature.
According to animal experts, this breaching behavior seems most prevalent in areas where higher surface temperatures may induce heat stress in stingrays. Their high metabolism and constant foraging combined with warm, stagnant water could spur periodic breaching to cool off.
Accidental Breaches
In some cases, the aerial jumps of stingrays are not intentional. Their flat bodies and enlarged pectoral fins function as underwater wings that generate lift and propulsion. At times, this adaptation can work too well when descending from the ocean depths.
If descending at a sharp angle with excess momentum, a stingray may inadvertently launch itself skyward in a sudden breach. This is likely more common in larger species whose weight and speed make smooth, angled descents more difficult.
An accidental breach caused by the stingray equivalent of pilot error will end with a graceless splashdown.
While breaching behavior is most often seen in dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals, stingrays surprisingly also jump clear of the waves for various evolutionary and physiological reasons. Whether navigating by electroreception, moderating body temperature, or accidentally becoming airborne, these flattened fish display nearly as much aerial activity as some of their mammalian counterparts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, stingrays jump for a variety of reasons, with escaping danger, removing pests, and communicating being the most common motivations. Their spectacular aerial displays serve necessary survival functions while also demonstrating these creatures’ impressive athletic abilities.
The next time you spot a stingray breach at the beach or aquarium, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for their behaviors and biology.
Understanding why animals behave in certain ways allows us to gain fascinating insights into their lives. By exploring the reasons behind stingrays’ remarkable jumping talents, we foster a greater sense of connection to these unique marine animals.
Whether for survival or play, stingrays will likely continue their gravity-defying feats, delighting ocean observers for years to come.
