Sting-ray

Sting-ray (Trygon), a genus of cartilaginous fishes, of the order of Rays (q.v.) and family Trygonidae. The long tail bears dorsally a long bi-serrated spine, which represents the dorsal fin, and is sometimes about eight inches in length. This is used as a defensive weapon, and gives an ugly wound, often followed by great inflammation, perhaps due to the mucous secretion of the fish, for there is no poison in the strict sense. Some members of the family, e.g. Urogymnus, are without this weapon. The sting-rays are for the most part tropical fishes, and some, e.g. T. sephen and T. uarnak, attain a large size. Only one species occurs in the British seas (T. pastinaca), popularly known as the Fire-flaire. The spine of the sting-ray is used by the savages of the South Sea Islands as a point to their spears.