Stingray migration turns ocean into giant living checkerboard
Mesmerising aerial footage has captured stingrays migrating from Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula to western Florida.
The epic migration – which takes place twice a year – captures a fever of cownose stingrays as they glide through the water, resembling a live checker board.
Cownose stingrays make long migrations in large groups of up to 10,000.
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Despite their harmless appearance, these guys are not ones to mess with.
The venom carried by the creatures – which is transferred via the stinger located on the ray’s tail – can be life threatening if it meets humans
The stinger itself comes in the form of a razor-sharp spine that grows from the creature’s tail. This whip-like structure can reach almost 38cm.
Scientists believe their migrations are triggered by changes in water temperature and sun orientation.
Check out the impressive footage above.
