The blue spots of the ribbontail are so bright and almost fluorescent that they appear rather unnatural. Against the yellowy green background of its skin, the neon markings are a clear warning to steer well clear if you dont want your day ruined. Stingrays have a set of venomous spikes sheathed within their tail, which cause agonizing pain, at the very least, if an unfortunate human should be wounded by one. While not as potent as some other stinging sea life, there are still a handful of cases where a ribbontails venom has led to a human fatality. However, its the mechanical effects of the sting that can be the most dangerous. Barbs from the rays tail can deliver some fairly traumatic tissue damage. These wounds can induce profuse bleeding and potentially lead to infection and necrosis. Particular care should be taken when a victim has been stung in their abdomen or close to major blood vessels. Removing spines that have penetrated the body cavity can result in exceedingly dangerous internal damage. The bluespotted ribbontail stingray might be dwarfed by the likes of the species that killed TVs Steve Irwin but being small and pretty is by no means the same as being harmless.
Peter Austin initially joined WhatCulture as an occasional contributor to our Film, Gaming and Science sections, but made the mistake of telling us that he'd been making videos in his bedroom for over a decade. Since then he's been a vital member of our YouTube team and routinely sets the standard for smart-casual wear in the office.
