A 2-meter-long stingray gave birth to 4 pups due to stress after jumping onto a boat off the coast of Alabama.
Mother stingray jumping onto the boat. (Photo: April Jones)
On July 16, April Jones and her family were participating in the Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo event in Alabama when a giant stingray jumped onto the back of their boat. Jones speculated that the stingray leaped onto the boat due to being attached by a remora fish. They estimated the stingray was over 2.1 meters long when stretched out, according to Mail.
After a moment of panic, the Jones family called the authorities and attempted to manage the situation. The stingray increased the boat’s weight, causing water to flood into the back of the boat. They tried to return the 180 kg stingray back to the sea but were unsuccessful. Therefore, they decided to return to shore and find a way to help the creature survive. The situation took an unexpected turn when the mother stingray gave birth to 4 pups. However, the pups did not survive due to being born in a stressful environment.
Pups born on the boat. (Photo: April Jones)
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab stated that if eagle rays encounter stressful situations, they will give birth. “It is not uncommon for wildlife to give birth to young when they feel threatened,” shared Brian Jones, the lab manager. “This is certainly an adaptation for them to reproduce and pass on genes in the population.” The deceased pups were donated to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab for educational purposes.
Eagle rays are not an endangered species but are nearing threatened status. Like manta rays, they tend to live in open seas rather than on the ocean floor. Compared to other stingray species, they have a rectangular shape with relatively long tails. Spotted eagle rays are among the most beautiful stingray species in the world.
