The Sundarban
Leopard whiptail rays have spotted pores and skin and a long, skinny tail they expend for balance, steering, and protection.
New England Aquarium
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Getting that annual check-up can really feel daunting for anyone. For a 140-pound leopard whiptail ray (Himantura leoparda) residing at the New England Aquarium in Boston, it’s a entire other animal. At the load of an adult human with a four-foot-three-wander wingspan, apt transferring the giant fish from its habitat to an exam pool is an train in teamwork.
“This process requires eight people on average, so we must make particular that that we have suitable staffing to develop these exams safely from each an animal and human safety aspect,” Dr. Kathy Tuxbury, the New England Aquarium’s Senior Veterinarian, tells Popular Science.
Bringing such a large ray from its habitat into an exam pool takes at least eight people. Image: New England Aquarium.
Vanessa Kahn
Leopard whiptail rays (also called leopard whip rays) have leopard-love spots and very long, skinny tails that can be two to four times the length of their our bodies. These tails aid them balance, steer by the water, and protect themselves against predators. Along side the tail, these rays can be 13-toes-long, and are learned in southeast Asian and northern Australian waters.
The New England Aquarium is dwelling to two male leopard whiptail rays, one weighing in at 140 pounds and the opposite at a whopping 162 pounds. The smaller of the two has been there for 17 years and had his annual physical lately.
At some point of the ray’s check-up, the aquarists point of interest on accumulating the fish from their demonstrate and bringing it into the exam pool. As soon as the ray is anesthetized, an aquarist will get into the water with the ray to make particular that water is flowing over their gills and to maintain the ray in place at some point of his exam.
Veterinarians give the ray an ultrasound. Image: New England Aquarium.
Vanessa Kahn
“The exam is then carried out by one in all the New England Aquarium veterinarians in a similar manner as most other animal species taking a head-to-tail approach with examining all aspects of the ray,” says Dr. Tuxbury. “The exam also entails performing an ultrasound and accumulating a blood sample for assessment.”
The aquarium will develop at least one physical exam per year, and others if any additional checkups if crucial. As for this male ray’s recent exam, his weight, eyes, pores and skin, and oral health is all normal. His heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract are also working as anticipated. The ray went back to swimming around his demonstrate—and eating—handiest half-hour later. The two leopard whiptail rays eat 2.5 pounds of meals every day.
After getting a clean invoice of health, the team lowers the ray back into its habitat. Image: New England Aquarium.
Vanessa Kahn
You can say hi there to the rays and wish them persisted accurate health at the Shark and Ray Touch Tank.
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