Holding a southern sting ray in the clear waters off Ambergris Caye, 2001
Like all fishes, the southern stingray gets oxygen from the water using its gills, but its habit of burying its mouth in the sediment often makes it difficult to pass water to the gill cavity. This species solves that problem by pumping water through specialized openings – called spiracles – that are located on the top of the head.
Photograph by Tom Boyd
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