My blogging buddy Grant suggested an image competition as a way to lure me back into a blogging mindset **. And then, I saw this (courtesy of the FB page for the team at Amazing Earth):
My first thought (following a passing glimpse) was, "embroidery". Followed, I’m sorry to say, by "mmmm, ravioli!" (In my defence, I missed breakfast this morning!) But no, they are newly hatched baby stingrays, and rather lovely babies they are too.
You’re next, Grant 🙂
** and apologies for the hiatus. With a lot having happened at home it’s been hard to get back into thinking about serious blogging.
Grant says:
Silly question – what happens to the (equivalent of) forelimbs in sting rays?
Now I need to hunt for something to put up…
Alison Campbell says:
The pectoral fins? I’d always assumed (naughty word, that!) that they represented the ‘wings’ of a skate or ray. And indeed, it seems my assumption was correct: http://www.elasmodiver.com/Whiptail_Stingrays.htm (The pelvic fins are clearly present in the ‘ravioli’ image – almost like little ‘legs’!)
Grant says:
Sorry, wasn’t expressing myself properly. I meant the skeleton not the whole limb; was looking at the hind limbs and thinking they look to have bones, but couldn’t what might be boney structure for the forelimbs.
Alison Campbell says:
remember that we’re talking cartilage rather than bone, so there would be cartilaginous rays supporting the wings.
Georgina says:
It looks to me that they have little legs poking out the bottom – missing link perhaps?
Alison Campbell says:
Pelvic fins 🙂