Caudal Spine Replacement and Histogenesis in the Round Stingray, Urobatis halleri

Abstract

Many stingray species replace their poisonous caudal spines season- <br /><br />ally; however, it is hypothesized that spine replacement may also be induced <br /><br />through a traumatic injury to the caudal spine. To determine whether the round <br /><br />stingray, Urobatis halleri, can replace damaged spines outside of normal spine <br /><br />shedding season, secondary spine growth of stingrays with clipped, removed, and <br /><br />intact primary spines was compared. Additional rays were separately collected <br /><br />for histological analysis of spine development. Though initial results indicated no <br /><br />difference in spine initiation among the treatments, later spine removals showed <br /><br />the ability of U. halleri to replace lost spines.