Stingrays actually quite gentle
DESPITE the reputation they earnt after the death of Steve Irwin, stingrays are actually passive, general creatures.

While they have long, sharp barbs on their tails, they rarely use them - or their venom - unless they feel threatened. Unfortunately, when they do, it can be deadly.

There have been only three documented stingray deaths in Australian waters, and fewer than 20 worldwide. Most deaths are caused when the stingray's barbs penetrate the chest and damage the heart or lungs.


There are 18 stingray species in Australian waters. The serrated barbs of a stingray's tail can be up to 20cm long and point backwards, making them extremely difficult to extract once they puncture the flesh.

Stingrays will generally avoid people if left alone, and most stingray injuries occur when a person steps on one, experts say. Typically, all that results is a gash to the legs.

Deputy director of the Australian Venom Research Unit at Melbourne University, Dr Bryan Fry, said the stingray's venom is unlikely to be fatal by itself.
"While extremely painful, stingray venom is rarely lethal," he said.

The biggest stingrays in Australian waters can be up to 2.5m wide and weigh up to 200kg, with serrated barbs up to 20cm long.

"It is a large barb delivered with extraordinary force and amazing speed."
Dr Fry said fatalities from stingray venom were rare: "It just makes you wish you were going to die, it puts you in that much pain."

Hundreds of people in Australia receive minor stings from rays every year, which can be treated by immersding the wound in hot water to break down the venom.


Melbourne Aquarium curator Nick Kirby said the venom was slow-acting and localised but heat could break it down.
"It's not injected in the sense of a snake bite but comes off the barb," he said. "You will get, fairly quickly, a painful reaction that can last several hours but doesn't necessarily spread."

Local effects of the venom include severe pain and death of surrounding tissue.

Marine ecologist Associate Prof Sean Connell said stingrays were not usually aggressive and used their long barbed tail to protect themselves from predators.

"I have never heard of an unprovoked attack from a stingray," he said.