Do the proximal spikes on a stingray carry venom...

[Orthopod]

Question purely for curiosity - do the proximal spikes on stingrays carry any venom?

 

[Orthopod]

My curiosity still has me on this one. Is there a mucous covering of these additional spines that is venomous? No one?

 

[severum1]

Yes they carry. I cut myself on one of those, it was a dead BD, and for 2 or 3 hours it was bad. After that no problems. It healed well.

 

[Orthopod]

Yes they carry. I cut myself on one of those, it was a dead BD, and for 2 or 3 hours it was bad. After that no problems. It healed well.

Thanks for the insight and excellent first hand account.

As a hobbyist and separately as a physician, very useful.
Thanks.

 

[Just Toby]

I always assumed that they did not so I am surprised to hear that they do...useful info indeed

 

[CANAMONSTER]

I

Yes they carry. I cut myself on one of those, it was a dead BD, and for 2 or 3 hours it was bad. After that no problems. It healed well.

And if it did have venom you would have known it as you wouldn't have been in pain for only three hours

 

[CANAMONSTER]

The toxin is only on the sleeve of the spike

 

[Just Toby]

The toxin is only on the sleeve of the spike

When you say spike are you referring to just the "sting" and saying it is not on the proximal spikes on the tail or are you saying it is on the sleeve of the proximal spikes?

 

[CANAMONSTER]

It's only on the stinger guys.

 

[severum1]

So the pain I had for 2 or 3 hours was what? If not venom what it was?

2 or 3 hours with the hand under hot water was bad. I know people that got stung and had problems for months and even years and that was not my case. But I can assure you that was venom. Not so bad because it healed fast and pain was only for a few hours, but was bad. I only can imagine if the ray was alive and if I was stung by the sting.