How dangerous is the stingray?

There are over one hundred kinds of stingray, widely distributed throughout the seas of the world. They all have longer and thinner tails than other rays and skates. Projecting from the top of the tail near the body end they have at least one but sometimes two sharp spines. These would be dangerous enough but the spines have poison glands, and stabs in the chest and abdomen have proved fatal on a number of occasions. When provoked the stingray can whip its tail round in a long, sideways thrust, or it can stab forwards over head at its enemy.