Yay! I love when there’s marine life on cuteoverload!

Couple of things: first, that’s not actually a stingray. It’s a skate, which is a close relative. You can tell because of the body shape and the tail, which is thicker than that of a stingray. Also, skates don’t have stingers at all, so you don’t have to worry about petting this little cutie.

Second, the “legs” aren’t claspers as suggested above, but the second fins. Skates do have claspers, as do rays, but that’s not them. It’s hard to tell in the picture, but I *think* this is a female skate; hence, no claspers. (Claspers on an adult male can be almost as long as the tail!)

I used to work at an aquarium that has a skate and ray touch pool, so I can attest to their charisma. The rays especially seem playful; they like to pop their heads out of the water to see what’s going on, and sometimes they’d get so enthusiastic about it that they’d fall over backwards.

Oh, last thing: the “eyespots” are nostrils. Their eyes are on the tops of their heads because they are bottom-dwelling (benthic) creatures.

oh,im not mad at them or anything..i know its a defense thing,and that they arent..plotting hurting people or anything!! but its a twinge of sadness i cant help,you know??

This is actually a baby Clear Nose Skate, a relative of stingrays. Their dorsal side is rough or spiny to the touch, unlike rays, which are smooth.

OMG it’s a Pokemon.

Squee!

i don no wy but fa some reason i love dis pic

mmm, smiley testicle dumpling…

Now I kind of want to taste it…but where would the meat be? The fishermen said it was the best thing they’d ever tasted–do you think they were talking about the internal organs?? Ack! Been at sea too long…

mmmm…

Fresh alien (market price)

HA!! But order quickly–he’s going to stop squeaking soon….

Maitre di – May I tell you about tonight’s specials?

We have duck al’orange, lamb shanks with orzo, a fresh brook trout smoked to perfection and, if you order quickly, alien