A massive stingray measuring over 7 feet wide and weighing more than 650 pounds was recently captured on video off the Rhode Island coast.
The Atlantic Shark Institute released the incredible footage, recorded using a baited underwater camera designed to attract large marine animals. The large roughtail stingray glided gracefully across the ocean floor, giving scientists and locals a rare look at one of New England’s most powerful predators.
Roughtail stingrays are known for their long, venomous tails, which can grow more than twice the length of their bodies. Despite their size and defenses, they are generally calm creatures that only use their tails when threatened. These rays are ambush hunters, often burying themselves in the sand before striking at passing prey.
The species typically spends summers in New England waters before heading south when temperatures drop. It’s another reminder of how much marine life thrives just off our coastline.
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