Evolution of Stingrays

Like sharks sting rays don't really have bones and instead have a skeleton made out of cartilage. This means there bodies don't fossilize very well and are usually lost to time. Despite this there is a lot that their genetics, close relatives and the few scant complete fossils can tell us about how they evolved.
To support me on Patreon (thank you): / mothlightmedia
To donate to my PayPal (thank you): www.paypal.me/mothlightmedia
To buy merchandise: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/moth-light...
Email: [e-mail]
If I have used artwork that belongs to you but have neglected to credit it this will just be because I was unable to find one. If this has happened please contact me and I will add a credit. Some Art work has been altered for the purposes of bettering them for video format; these alterations were done independent from the artists who created the original work, so they are not responsible for any inaccuracies that could have occurred with the changes being made.
Sources:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/p...
www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/3/3/20...
hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr...
www.britannica.com/animal/fis...
www.pnas.org/content/112/52/1...

[@tonkinesequeen7553]

If I remember correctly, manta rays have been found to show signs of self-awareness when interacting with their reflections, such as displaying behaviors towards their own reflections that they wouldn't do with other members of their species. They're incredibly intelligent, and I hope that fact becomes more well-known with the public!

[@jayden_rico]

Do u think they taste good

[@toadfaceass]

Well I didnt know that so thanks for sharing

[@toadfaceass]

@@jayden_rico dyu fink dey tayst gud

[@renaigh]

y'know there some Humans that can't do that, would that make them unintelligent?

[@tonpalacios2964]

@@jayden_rico they taste aight

[@valeriavagapova]

1:05 I actually have never seen a stingray skeleton before and this looks so eerie and alien. Amazing.

[@QUIRK1019]

WOW! Me neither and I love looking at different animal skeletons. Weird that this awesome one has eluded me for so long

[@billstone8468]

It looks like a goddamn face hugger

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

Interesting. My first thought was "It has legs!!?"

[@gequitz]

Same

[@ravenwithcall8527]

Their skeleton was so weird that at one time they were sold as ‘demons’ due to the mouth and nose looking like eyes.

[@vilisveidis]

I honestly do not care what kind of organism you cover. Your concise yet comprehensive delivery of such information always leaves me in awe and wonderment, of what came to pass before our time. Surely one of my best KZbin subscriptions!

[@juanleuschner7457]

I completely agree

[@johannesl4736]

Well said

[@dbllllll.a]

nice one fellr

[@MrGreen-fi5sg]

No God made us.

[@WanderTheNomad]

@@MrGreen-fi5sg how much evidence is there behind this? 🤔

[@EIBrown]

I'm so glad you mentioned ray intelligence. I feel like that's something that doesn't get talked about enough. Cephalopods get all the credit for non-mammalian ocean intelligence, when rays are pretty damn smart in their own right...

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

Squid intelligence is strangely overlooked, too. I can never find info. Search engine: "Did you mean octopus intelligence?" "NO!" 😑 Lol

[@EIBrown]

@@TragoudistrosMPH And cuttlefish as well! Easily as smart as octopi and other cephalopods, but some of the least acknowledged.

[@a.wenger3964]

Manta rays being the most intelligent fish is so interesting! I hope there will be future research on this topic.

[@dumbshitmule2251]

I was looking for this comment. Smart boys flopping at the surface with their cute face. Gonna get my kid a plushy so I can steal it lol.

[@BirdiesGoCherp]

It does make sense, Fish are generally very dumb so it doesn't take much for rays to be the most intelligent fish.

[@a.wenger3964]

@@BirdiesGoCherp fair enough, it would be interesting to see though how their cognition would square up with other types of animals like mammals or birds.

[@RisingRevengeance]

@@a.wenger3964 Would be cool to see but I don't think it would be much of a contest

[@drsharkboy6568]

@@a.wenger3964 mantas have been shown to recognize themselves in the mirror.

[@lizxu322]

A cool fact to add is that manta rays can actually recognize themselves in the mirror - most mammals can't even do it, so it's amazing that a fish can.

[@zzcrazzprozz]

Cleaner wrasse fish can do it too. It's really surprising as they're only 10cm long

[@SaturninePlaces]

I thought Manta Rays might have been 6 feet across at most, all my life. Then I saw that clip near the end with the manta swimming near the surface and thought, how big is that actually? They can get up to 29 feet across... 😳

[@_ninthRing_]

Yeah, I was freediving near the sandy sea floor (5-6 metres down, Rottnest, Western Australia) once, when a 2 metre wide stingray swam just above me, making everything suddenly go dim as it blocked the sunlight - scaring the shit out of me, as I thought it would block me from surfacing...

[@felixkraemer2432]

i saw Manta rays while diving and nothing prepares you for how big they really are when they swim above you

[@greensteve9307]

29 feet = 8.8 metres.

[@sakesaurus1706]

@@greensteve9307 you're a saint

[@kyleejones8902]

Yeah in comparison, I think the ray that accidentally killed Steve Irwin was like 6ft

[@hamsacc]

I've been wondering about their evolutionary past. I've only ever seen shark history, this was a pleasant surprise

[@kfl611]

I have always like rays, they seem so peaceful and calm, just flapping their 'wings' and swimming along as if they don't have a care in the world.

[@dagnyathome]

The note about how krill may have influenced whale/whale shark evolution was as really cool! Would love to see a video expanding on that!

[@ThrowerTimothy]

Great video as always - I was wondering whether you could do a video on the evolution of the ant, bees and wasps? That'd be so cool

[@maybe752]

How does eusocial living evolve?! Leaf cutter ants farming fungus? How? They're not smart I dont think. This is a great idea I hope it happens

[@blingbwoy]

^^^

[@matthewfinger2381]

@@maybe752 It's really complex but the simple version of how eusociality evolved is that a female insect was able to give birth to identical sterile versions of herself, and because these sterile clones had no reproductive drive they instead dedicated their lives to helping the original female survive and reproduce. This mutation proved to be helpful so it got passed on and developed independently in several animals, even pistol shrimp and mole rats.

[@potatobird52]

Yes! This is a great one for Moth to cover. Insect evolution is generally overlooked because people are too busy gawking at the big lizards or the hairy elephant.

[@elektriktoad2]

@@maybe752 in ants/bees/wasps, males have only one set of chromosomes, while females have the usual two sets. This means that all workers in a colony share the exact same genes from dad, and each gets a different assortment of 50% of the queen’s genes. For a worker, its sisters (including new queens) this share 75% of its genes, but it would only be 50% related to its own offspring! It is actually in the workers’ selfish best interest to help the queen produce more sister-queens that start new colonies, instead of trying to reproduce themselves. That’s a recipe for eusociality, where working for the good of the colony is the best way to pass on your genes.

[@geoentronecromancer]

Rays are some of my favorite animals, ever since I got to feed and pet some at an aquarium during my senior year of high school. They're SO cute, and I'm not surprised at all to hear that they're highly intelligent. This vid was awesome and made me happy, so thank you!!

[@KCCC326]

im an old youtube veteran. I love seeing budding creators and can always tell a winner. This guy is a winner

[@brolacoleo1619]

KZbin veteran?

[@gumshake689]

@@brolacoleo1619 KZbin veteran refers to the people that fought in the battle between Vimeo and KZbin back in 2011

[@kylecollier7569]

@@brolacoleo1619 When they've been on KZbin since the mid 2000's when KZbin was in its "infancy". My first channel was, and still is, one of the last "old school" KZbin channels to have been put on KZbin since 2009 close to 13 years ago.

[@MrMemelord00]

I find it astonishing and extremely disappointing that you're the only channel even among archeology paleontology etc type channels who talks about modern animals and their history on the evolutionary tree that I could find

[@MrMemelord00]

So I glad you're still doing them

[@a.wenger3964]

PBS eons is the only other channel i know of that makes content in this category on par with mothlight

[@MrMemelord00]

@@a.wenger3964 even pbs eons while the only other channel that does it doesn't give as much data as I feel mothlight does

[@steggy2388]

@@MrMemelord00 animal origins is a good channel that does similar videos, although with a general focus on mammals

[@MrMemelord00]

@@steggy2388 never seen that channel thanks for bringing it up

[@Kinetic_Silver]

Dude, every time I’m curious about a specific animal, your videos always come up and they’re always exactly what I’m looking for

[@carto4028]

Wonder if given enough time if the manga ray will grow whale sized like the trend of most filter feeding animals. Imagine a whale sized ray, that would be nuts.

[@Ethan54136]

That was my thought too!

[@matthewfinger2381]

That would require whales to die off and no other animal to replace their niche before the ray could.

[@carto4028]

@@matthewfinger2381 I disagree, fliter feeding Is a unique niche because there really is a lot of food to go around for a filter feeder and we've seen other creatures recently break into the niche as well like whale sharks and basking sharks. On top of there being more than enough food to support multiple species in the same niche we are in a period where all of the massive predators such a megalodon and the the aquatic reptiles of old are dead so large filter feeders are pretty much invincible once they reach there adult stage. One day because there's an empty niche something will evolve to prey on the large filter feeders again like before but as of right now it's a safe and nearly infinite buffet they have.

[@Enmos]

I mean.. the biggest manta ray found was 30 feet.

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

@@Enmos right, just getting greedy with size 😋 70ft wide Manta Rays? (Could you imagine?)

[@euphoricet862]

Honestly one of my main reasons i love watching your videos is that the soothing music in the backround and you have such a soft voice and it just fits it all perfectly plus you give AMAZING information and facts. Your the only youtuber where i watch the ENTIRE video through without even getting distracted.

[@valeriavagapova]

This channel is such a blessing. One of the few that I always make sure to watch fully with ads

[@santawithsponge]

I can't help but crack a smile back at this little guy 8:12

[@matthewwelsh294]

It is super cute

[@NeoRipshaft]

I don't always catch your vids but I'm always delighted every time I watch them - there's a very special kind of joy I get from watching any sciencey media that remains factually accurate and does not demonstrate a failure to engage with the material... but that is instead a clear reflection of the uncompromising passion so many of us have for the world and its workings. Keep being awesome 👍

[@Linkous12]

The fact that mantas seem to pass the mirror test blew me away when I first learned about it a couple weeks ago.

[@BrookD.Artist]

Idk if you take requests, but the evolution and categorization of viruses is something I've always been curious about.

[@nogoodgod4915]

These creatures are strong, no wonder Steve got done in.

[@evilcow666]

I recall a paper saying that mantas potentially can recognise themselves in a mirror. Something even gorillas can't do

[@festusmaximus4111]

gorillas have a hard time looking at the reflection long enough to recognise its them, or they get pissed off at that gorilla staring at them all the time!

[@kfl611]

@@festusmaximus4111 Like when cats attack that other mean cat in the mirror.

[@luudest]

0:46 I love that splash and that click

[@thefisherking78]

I love rays. I used to feed an Atlantic stingray while volunteering in an aquarium and it was so much fun. Almost like feeding a puppy.

[@deliberatarian1646]

I love all of your pieces, but is there any way you could do one on pigeons/ doves? I’ve been dying to learn more about their evolutionary process

[@shadymcnasty5920]

Why? They're jut basic birds

[@syafiqjabar]

No animal is quite "basic"

[@vaahtobileet]

@@syafiqjabar my girlfriend is

[@thatonekid6677]

@@vaahtobileet lol break up with her then

[@dakotahinson4064]

About time mane!

[@BeepDragon]

**Mange*

[@iwasadeum]

The manta ray is my favorite extant animal. Such a beautiful, majestic creature, and the perfect blend between the grace of a shark, and the general lack of danger to humans that are the scaled fishes 😁

[@Fede_99]

So to put it simple, rays swim very effishently...

[@JG-zs8tr]

🙄

[@kyleharrison3804]

A huge thank you to Mr. Binky Barns for supporting such an amazing channel 🙏

[@rosetownstumpcity]

so glad that i found this channel, thanks for all the great, entertaining, and informative content

[@Outlast25]

Great video! Can I humbly request a consideration on making a video to educate the laymen like myself about the method of classification of different species? And a video discussing an outline of the different time periods of the Earth? Would love a general overview to contextualize things.

[@Illlium]

Right on dude, that'd make a great series.

[@Funkiotologist]

After you posted your video on Aquilolamna last year I’ve been wanting a vid on rays for so long, love this channel

[@Funkiotologist]

I’ve been debating staying researching marine biology or switching to wanting to go for a phd in Paleontology or something in that field and I definitely want to go into paleontology at this point, the amount of stuff I know about natural history is egregious compared to the little I’ve done in the field 😂

[@ItRhymesWith]

Another great Moth Light Media video. Love your consistency in quality!

[@satyr1349]

Fascinating as always. Keep up the work!

[@leventeacs8606]

I absolutely adore this channel.

[@clayleonard7005]

Another educational banger bud! I’ve watched every single one of your uploads! Keep up the awesome work! 👍🏽

[@epcdasilent]

This is the best channel for pre-historic animal history. Good soft-spoken voice, to the point and easy to understand. And know exactly what we want to know/hear. THANK YOU MLM!!

[@Mattz554]

I adore every bit of your videos, man. Awesome stuff 👍

[@nektarios5291]

Always enjoy your videos, but if I could make one criticism its that they're not long enough. I'd happily sit for a half hour or even an hour on this topic.

[@XetiKs]

I love your videos! Amazing work, as always

[@mikepierson7447]

Love it when one of your video drops! As always great work.

[@purplehaze2358]

Imagine having the perfect body plan for aquatic locomotion and just deciding, "Okay, that was fun. I want to be a pancake now please".

[@frankpazdera2740]

I was just thinking the other day that I wished you'd do a video on Batoidea. Great content, as always!

[@napoleonbonaparte1667]

Yessss I suggested this topic months ago, so happy to see you ended up covering it

[@pootpoot355]

Ive been waiting for this video thank u moth light I love your channel

[@johngavin1175]

Good vid,man. Seeing Ken Ham on your Patreon list always cracks me up.

[@bigbear7567]

Outstanding documentary as always!!!!!

[@HisameArtwork]

awesome vid, I've always loved rays. and your voice is so nice

[@valeriavagapova]

Right, the way he speaks is so clear and calming. Just extremely pleasant

[@jossypoo]

Brilliant video. Can't miss a new one. I learned so much about rays! Thank you! Manta have always struck me as intelligent and excited to be around humans when I've seen them in the wild. A sort of intelligence we don't often consider from fish. Flappy puppys

[@--Paws--]

The Spotted Eagle Ray (2:21, aetobatus narinari) looks like it is wearing a Louis Vuitton pattern

[@Genesis-xr5pr]

Wanted to know this for a while now! Thanks!

[@blondbraid7986]

I always thought that a ray was a shark that got stuck under a steamroller!

[@justbearwithmehere620]

I have literally waited SOO LONG it feels like, for a new video to come out!!

[@ZetaFuzzMachine]

Great video, as always! I'd love to see a follow up vid exploring their unique physiological traits, like that weird mouth!

[@1jotun136]

I'm always pleased when you upload a new video.

[@kimbratton9620]

Awesome content as always!!😀

[@tessat338]

Dang, I wish I had know years ago about how smart rays are. One of my son's favorite toys was a plush eagle ray from the National Aquarium in Baltimore. When he was little, my son would have me make up extemporaneous stories about his toys. Knowing that the eagle ray was clever could have given me more inspiration.

[@claytonallen5428]

Thank you for this video.

[@oreji3987]

Your videos are amazing man

[@alexandrbatora9674]

thanks for another video!

[@rkrs843]

Thank you for your amazing content! 🤟🏾🤙🏾

[@divine-wind]

You mini doco’s are the best

[@Flowerofearth]

I worked at the National SeaLife centre this summer, my favourite area was a the Bay of Rays. Honestly sometimes it felt like they were playing with you, splashing you or waving, plus very cute.

[@gaemlinsidoharthi]

Amazing stuff. Never realised that I was taking this group of my fellow Earth inhabitants so much for granted.

[@domj3698]

Very good timing, we just finished our sea star and relatives lecture, so will be moving onto chordates and early fish species in my zoology diversity of life lectures

[@stingray45]

love this video for no reason

[@SnowChickenFlake]

Rays might be my favourite marine creatures. So „undertalked” about

[@adrianrodriguez9582]

Your videos make anything interesting with modern species keep up the great work!

[@StepBaum]

Again rly cool video :)

[@greensnake00]

I'm so off my face 😅 love the channel keep it up dude 🤙👍

[@theqdie]

Amazing topic I love manta ray and cartilaginous fish

[@egidapalatina]

I'm so happy you made this video. Manta rays are my totem animal!

[@sassa82]

Great video!

[@JanetStarChild]

What a fascinating topic! Rays are beautiful animals.

[@BenjaminISmith]

It is so much more rewarding in my oppinion to believe the evident truth that animals diversified from each other over many millions of years than to think they all just appeared on earth one day in their current forms. It's just beutifal

[@MintKorii]

I literally love rays so much and I was smiling the whole time, my favorite are manta rays and most eagle rays

[@mantequillaplastico]

I didn't know a thing about stringrays! Thanks for this

[@shawnohagan5503]

Great video

[@_Solaris]

My monthly dose of quality content.

[@jessedied]

great video

[@thecrow3350]

Beautiful

[@carto4028]

Rays movement fascinate me. We're as fish and sharks use the tail as it's primary movement, rays use there fins. Makes you think if there's a timeline where aquatic fish primary evolved stronger fins instead on tails and the ocean would be only filled with ray like creatures.

[@UniDocs_Mahapushpa_Cyavana]

Probably not in a world with the over-the-top eyes of Anomalocaris and Trilobites. Fish really needed to be harder to see and faster before they got good eyes and intelligence to avoid attacks from far. Also, very fast fish like Marlin and schooling fish (for fast direction changing) would probably evolve to be more similar to normal fish.

[@carto4028]

@@UniDocs_Mahapushpa_Cyavana Yeah your right, but I wonder under different environmental pressures if such a scenario can or has taken place on a alien world.

[@brianedwards7142]

"...where the normal torpedo body shape has been adapted to the point where they are barely recognisable as....." Fun fact the word torpedo is taken from the Spanish name for an electric ray.

[@_Wombat]

Thanks for the video. I wanted to support the channel so I signed up to your Patreon. However, it seems rather bare? I also notice that your merch link in the description is not actually a link? Surely if you were a little more active on Patreon and more on top of your merch - people would be happy to support? Just an idea - I know managing your "socials" as well as creating videos is probably a fair bit of work :)

[@ArleneDKatz]

Thank you

[@samdumaquis2033]

Great vid

[@whyukraine]

Please make a playlist with everything on your channel.

[@alexmark6580]

Babe wake up, Stingray lore just dropped.

[@pacotaco1246]

So you're telling me that Steve Irwin may have been assassinated!?

[@charliespinoza1966]

So fascinating

[@footfault1941]

Excellent, enlightening. Only if more about paleontological information was shown. A glimpse of evolutionary pathway is suggested. Brilliant presentation!

[@moderncavemann6786]

Lovee this Chanel 😍

[@dannydugan6738]

Best channel on youtube

[@jaidyn-7156]

i’m gonna watch ur whole channel one day believe that.

[@crelos3549]

0:13 Reptiles and birds should be in the same group

[@paradyyoung6350]

I remember watching the blue realm doc with manta ray ; the ray tend to have a favorite swimmer that they let interact (ride on) and went away from those they didnt like haha

[@boneslamb6969]

I really like the video

[@tramenari]

Please make a video on the evolution of spiders. I was fascinated by your video on whale evolution and you helped me understand that even if they disappeared tomorrow, eventually another species could fill in their niche over time. But I can't see how something as niche as a spider web could re-evolve.

[@tramenari]

He actually made it lol