Why gentle stingrays can turn into killers

STINGRAYS have sometimes been called the “pussycats” of the sea because of their generally non-aggressive nature.

However, when threatened the stingray can whip up its toxic tail in an instance, causing excruciating pain to humans.

There are at least 70 different species around the world’s oceans but they can also be found in freshwater.

They are most common in tropical waters such as the area around the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Steve Irwin’s death was only the third known stingray death in Australian waters, said shark and stingray expert Victoria Brims.

Shaun Collin, University of Queensland marine neuroscientist, said: “It’s not easy to get spined by a stingray and to be killed by one is very rare.”

The largest species of stingray can grow to about 13ft (4m) in length or width and their tails are often twice as long as their bodies.

Their barbed stinger grows from the tail like a fingernail and is covered with a toxic venom but deaths from contact with the barb are rare.

Most injuries from stingrays tend to affect the lower limbs of bathers in shallow water.

But when the barb enters the body through the chest area, very serious injuries can occur.

With the venom administered directly into the body, the heart and other internal organs are poisoned and death is much more likely.

In some cases, the stingray’s toxic spine is broken off and remains in the wound, especially when the fish is pulled off the victim.