#spotted ray

The Xingu River Ray is a venomous stingray that contains venom localized at its dentine spine in its tail. While the ray's venom composition does not change with maturation, the venom toxicity decreases as rays get older. On the other hand, rays' jaw shape, stiffness, and mineralization are strengthened with age, which allows mature rays the ability to consume hard-shelled invertebrates. These changes in traits with maturation reflect the different pressures rays experience in terms of functions such as feeding and avoiding predation during different maturity stages.

Decided to do some marine animal study because I’m so bad at drawing fish. Which one is your favorite?

Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray- Taeniura lymma

I haven’t been so excited about a new crochet design in ages! I’m in love with this cutie, although it took ages to get the shape and tail length right. Planning a trip to go scuba diving in Indonesia before graduate school, so I have been watching documentaries about the sea creatures there. This beautiful ray is one of them and I knew I had to crochet one! They range in color from beige to yellow to brownish green, so I’m going to make a beige one as well.