Getting that annual check-up can feel daunting for anyone. For a 140-pound leopard whiptail ray (Himantura undulata) living at the New England Aquarium in Boston, it’s a whole other animal. At the weight of an adult human with a four-foot-three-inch wingspan, just moving the giant fish from its habitat to an exam pool is an exercise in teamwork.
“This process requires eight people on average, so we must ensure we have proper staffing to perform these exams safely from both an animal and human safety aspect,” Dr. Kathy Tuxbury, the New England Aquarium’s Senior Veterinarian, tells Popular Science.
Vanessa Kahn
Leopard whiptail rays (also called leopard whip rays) have leopard-like spots and very long, thin tails that can be two to four times the length of their bodies. These tails help them balance, steer through the water, and defend themselves against predators. Including the tail, these rays can be 13-feet-long, and are found in southeast Asian and northern Australian waters.
The New England Aquarium is home to one male and one female leopard whiptail ray, one weighing in at 140 pounds and the other at a whopping 162 pounds. The smaller of the two has been there for 17 years and had his annual physical recently.
During the ray’s check-up, the aquarists focus on collecting the fish from their exhibit and bringing it into the exam pool. Once the ray is anesthetized, an aquarist gets into the water with the ray to make sure that water is flowing over their gills and to keep the ray in position during his exam.
Vanessa Kahn
“The exam is then performed by one of the New England Aquarium veterinarians in a similar manner as most other animal species taking a head-to-tail approach with examining all aspects of the ray,” says Dr. Tuxbury. “The exam also includes performing an ultrasound and collecting a blood sample for review.”
The aquarium will perform at least one physical exam per year, and others if any additional checkups if needed. As for this male ray’s recent exam, his weight, eyes, skin, and oral health is all normal. His heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract are also working as expected. The ray went back to swimming around his exhibit—and eating—only 30 minutes later. The two leopard whiptail rays eat 2.5 pounds of food every day.
Vanessa Kahn
You can say hello to the rays and wish them continued good health at the Shark and Ray Touch Tank.
