Hello friends Summarized! This time we will discuss articles about the rarest and largest fish in the world. Have you ever heard of the little eyed stingray? This fish is the largest and rarest stingray in the world that was recently discovered by scientists in the waters of Mozambique. This fish has an extraordinary size and unique shape. But unfortunately, the rarest and largest fish in the world is also threatened with extinction due to human activities that destroy their habitat. Come on, let’s see more about the little eye stingray in this article!
Small Eye Stingray, The Rareest and Biggest Fish in the World
What is the rarest and biggest fish in the world
Small Eye Stingray
The small-eyed stingray (Megatygon microps) is a species of stingray that belongs to the Dasyatidae family. This fish has the scientific name Megatygon microps which means “big ray with small eyes”. This name describes the characteristics of this fish which has a very large body but very small eyes.
The small eyed stingray has a body length of up to 7 meters and a weight of up to 2 tons. This fish has a dark gray color on the top of the body and white on the bottom. This fish also has a very short dorsal fin and a very long tail fin. On the tail, this fish has a poisonous skull or spines which can cause serious injuries if touched.
The little eye stingray lives in the deep sea at a depth of between 200 and 500 meters. This fish is found in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, especially around the coasts of South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Indonesia and Australia. This fish includes fish that are active at night and eat various types of marine animals such as fish, squid, shrimp, crabs and mollusks.
How the Little Eyed Stingray was Discovered
The little eye stingray is a very difficult fish to study because it lives in the deep sea and is rarely seen on the surface. This fish was first described by scientists in 1963 based on specimens caught by fishermen in South Africa. However, only in 2023, scientists managed to find this fish directly in its natural habitat.
This discovery was made by a team of researchers from the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) led by Andrea Marshall, a National Geographic explorer and ray expert. They went on a several-week expedition off the coast of Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago in search of rare stingrays. Using special equipment such as sonar, underwater cameras and drones, they managed to find a small stingray in the waters of Southern Mozambique.
Andrea Marshall even managed to touch a tiny eye ray with a 6-foot long stick. He also took small skin samples from the underside of the fish for genetic analysis. This discovery is critical to learning more about the biology, ecology, and behavior of the littleeye ray.
Why the Little Eyed Stingray is Endangered
Unfortunately, although the little eye stingray is an extraordinary fish, it is also endangered due to human activities that destroy their habitat and population. This fish is classified as “Data Deficient” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means that there is not enough information about the conservation status of this fish.
One of the main threats to the littleeye stingray is unselective and unsustainable wild fishing. This fish is often caught by nets, trawls, or other fishing gear intended for other fish. Because these fish have very slow growth and reproduction, fishing for these fish can reduce their population drastically.
In addition, the little eye stingray is also threatened by climate change, pollution and loss of habitat. Changes in temperature, acid and oxygen in the ocean can affect the health and distribution of these fish. Pollution can cause poisoning or disease in these fish. Loss of habitat can reduce the food sources and shelters for these fish.
How to Protect Little Eye Stingrays
To protect the small eye rays, joint efforts are needed from various parties, including the government, the community, and scientists. Some steps that can be taken are:
- Increase research and monitoring of the stingrays, including identifying their location, numbers and habits.
- Develop effective management and regulation to control illegal fishing and reduce its impact on the smalleye stingray.
- Increasing public awareness and education about the importance of protecting marine biodiversity and respecting stingrays as part of the ecosystem.
- Encouraging the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable ecotourism that can provide economic and social benefits to the community while protecting small stingrays.
Conclusion
The small eye stingray is the largest and rarest stingray in the world which was recently discovered by scientists in the waters of Mozambique. This fish has an extraordinary size and unique shape. But unfortunately, these fish are also endangered due to human activities that destroy their habitat and population. To protect this fish, a concerted effort from various parties is needed to improve research, management, awareness, and ecotourism.
Thus the article about the rarest and largest fish in the world that we present to you. Hopefully useful and add to our insight about extraordinary natural wealth. If you have questions or comments regarding this article, please write in the comments column below. Thank you for reading!
