How Stingrays Grow Their Skeletons
Author Information
Author(s): Binru Yang, David Knötel, Jana Ciecierska‐Holmes, Jan Wölfer, Júlia Chaumel, Paul Zaslansky, Daniel Baum, Peter Fratzl, Mason N. Dean
Primary Institution: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
Hypothesis
How can the continuous covering of stingray skeletons be maintained as they expand?
Conclusion
Stingray skeletal growth is achieved by enlarging existing mineralized tiles rather than increasing their number.
Supporting Evidence
- The number of tesserae remains constant even as the hyomandibula expands.
- Larger tesserae grow faster to accommodate skeletal expansion.
- Tesserae size distributions are self-similar across different ages.
- The study provides a model for how tessellated surfaces can grow without losing structural integrity.
Takeaway
Stingrays have special tiles on their skeletons that grow bigger as the stingray gets older, helping them stay strong and protected.
Methodology
The study used microCT imaging and custom visual data analyses to examine the growth patterns of stingray skeletal elements.
Limitations
The study focused only on the hyomandibula of Haller's stingray, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other species.
Participant Demographics
The study included nine individuals of Urobatis halleri, balanced between males and females, across various developmental stages.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website