A breathtaking natural spectacle recently presented itself to vacationers off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, a resort town on the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. Several stingrays jumped out of the sea and “fluttered” just above the surface of the water.
Even when they flap their fins underwater like bird wings, the locomotion of rays is reminiscent of the flight of birds. In fact, animals with a severely flattened body and large pectoral fins fused at the head cannot naturally fly.
But time and time again it is observed that the rays, which belong to the so-called cartilaginous fish, jump up to two meters out of the water, flap their fins like wings and then dive back into the sea on their bellies. That was also the case on Monday for surprised tourists who traveled by boat off the coast of Cabo San Lucas.
Why the rays exhibit this behavior has not yet been investigated. Experts suspect that jumping out of the water may help the animals hunt shrimp. There is also the theory that the fish – like dolphins – jump out of the water out of sheer joy of life.
Flying jet killed woman in boat in 2008
Animal behavior can be deadly to humans. In March 2008 off the coast of California, a spotted eagle ray jumped into a pleasure boat and killed a woman. The 35-kilogram animal fell with full force on the head of the 55-year-old, who was sunbathing on the deck of the boat. The Michigan woman died before rescuers could reach the boat.
Source: Krone
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