geographic location - common stingray is found throughout the mediterranean and black seas. It also occur in the northeastern atlantic ocean from southern norway and the western baltic sea to madeira and the canary islands. I can be found from the shore to a depth of 660 ft. though is is not usually found deeper than 200 ft
Movement - they spend majority of time inactive; partially buried in sand, often moving only with sway of current. when they are inclined to move, most stingrays swim by undulating their bodies like a wave; others flap their sides like wings. the tail may also be used to maneuver in the water, but its primary purpose is protection
reproduction - winter. when males court females they bight at their body. the female holds embryos in the womb without a placenta. INstead, the embryos absorb nutrients from a yolk sac, and after the sac is depleted, the mother provides uterine milk. Females bear two litters of 4-9 pups per year following a gestation period of four months
thermoregulation - ectothermic. there is a bunch of blood capillaries between their red swimming muscles, which acts a heat exchanger. the heat created through muscle activity is transported by the blood to the gills. Hardly any body heat is lost through the gills, and the temperature inside the body is 5-14 degrees celsius above the temp of the surround water this elaborate system also saves energy. heat is mainly added where is is needed for a thing prey; to the brain, the muscles, the intestines and the stomach
homeostasis - flexible pectoral fins and wide flat bodies. most stingrays live in shallow water and are fairly docile animals who prey on small fish
Food capture/digestion - feeds on wide variety of bottom dwelling organisms, including crustaceans, worms, and small bony fish. There are 28-38 upper tooth rows and 28-43 lower tooth rows. the teeth are small and blunt. there are five papillae across the bottom of the mouth. the tail is slender and whip-like. it is equipped with a venom gland at is base that is filled with poison. a second or even third spine may also be present as the spines are regularly replaced and new spines grow in before existing ones have shed.
immune system - liver is huge and oily. the liver can make up as much as 25% of body weight.they need this to aid in buoyancy because they do not have swim bladders like most boony fish do. largest organ is the digestive tract. these organs include the esophagus, the stomach and the intestines. other important organs include the pancreas, spleen, rectal gland, kidneys.
closed circulatory system
gas exchange - spiracles behind eyes, and gills on their flat underside. water goes in through spiracles and out through the gills, freeing stingray's mouth to eat. this arrangement also allows them to breathe while covered in sand