Gallery: Absurd Creature of the Week: The Half-Ton Giant Freshwater Stingray With a 15-Inch Poison Barb
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Southeast Asia's giant freshwater stingray can grow to over 16 feet long and a staggering 1,300 pounds. *Photo courtesy of Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada*
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Incredibly, the giant freshwater stingray wasn't described by scientists until 1990, though not because of any laziness on the scientists' part. These creatures spend their time on the river bottom, and are rarely caught due to their size. *Photo courtesy of Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada*
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Scientists are racing to study the giant freshwater stingray, which, like many big fish species in the Mekong River, is now endangered. *Photo courtesy of Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada*
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Giant freshwater stingray barbs can grow to 15 inches long (this one measures 8 inches). They have backward-facing spines and are coated in a toxin that causes extreme pain. *Photo courtesy of Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada*
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Giant freshwater stingrays' mouths contain crushing pads, with which they mash invertebrates like crabs and shrimp. The man shown here isn't himself a giant. He is in fact holding a juvenile. *Photo courtesy of Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada*
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The giant freshwater stingray is able to grow to such sizes not because it eats all its vegetables, but because the Mekong River provides plenty of space to develop in, as well as tremendous biodiversity for the creature to prey upon. Fish also tend to grow larger in warm waters, such as those of the Mekong. *Photo courtesy of Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada*
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The giant freshwater stingray hunts using electroreception. Once it finds prey, the stingray smothers it with its body – or cuddles it, if you're into euphemisms – directing the poor creature into powerful crushing pads in its mouth. *Photo courtesy of Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada*
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Though seemingly beastly, giant freshwater stingrays are actually quite gentle and inquisitive, only using their stingers as a last resort in self defense. *Photo courtesy of Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada*
