Stingray is not the brightest underwater representative of the world, but this small fish is valued in commercial and recreational fishing. Despite the large scale of fishing, the number of fish does not decrease, and schools of fish are found in lakes and seas. What does a sturgeon look like, where does it live and why is this fish called a cucumber? You will learn all this in this article!
Lifestyle
Stingrays live in groups. This allows them to migrate during the spawning period and protect themselves from natural enemies. Fish can hardly withstand water pollution. That is why it chooses exceptionally clean water bodies for life. These fish live in great depths. Therefore, they settle in deep places of seas and lakes.
Like other fish representatives, all species of stingrays feed on zooplankton. Larger skates eat the fry of other fish. Fish are especially active in summer and autumn. During this period, large schools of plaice move closer to the shores in search of food.
Where does the flounder live?
Stingrays live in northern seas, lakes, bays and estuaries located in Russia, the Baltic countries and Scandinavia. In sandy areas of seas and lakes, fish form large schools. For spawning, it chooses the mouth of the river without a strong current.
Asian stingrays are found near the shores of the Pacific Ocean. They are also found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Stingrays live in Kamchatka, near the Kuril Islands, in the Pacific Ocean.
This small fish has a great appetite. In summer and autumn, flounder become especially greedy. Stingray is a predator. Therefore, large pike fry are often found in the stomach. This happens due to living in bodies of water where there is no other food.
Stingrays mainly feed on small crustaceans - cyclops, daphnia and cypress. They can also eat planktonic algae. Adults can eat small fish and caviar. In addition, the smelt has rather large teeth.
Sting is considered a very lively fish. It can remain alive for several hours when taken out of water. This is due to the special structure of its gills. Stinta has two cavities with water.
How the flounder spawns
Fish begin to reproduce immediately after the ice moves, when the temperature is +4 degrees. Spawning reaches its peak at a temperature of +6-9 degrees. During this period, fish move to streams or rivers. Stingrays often travel long distances before spawning. Reproduction itself takes several days.
Females lay eggs on the bottom. They are distinguished by an adhesive coating, so they are easily fixed in one place. Most eggs do not survive and are eaten by predators. The surviving individuals turn into larvae after 2 weeks. Then they go out to sea with the current. At first, the young eat only algae, but over time they switch to other foods.
Stinta in cooking
Fried tuna with a crispy crust, whose bones are soft and the meat is juicy and fatty, will not leave anyone indifferent. In addition, the taste of fish, although specific, is very pleasant.
During cooking, chefs remove the head of the fish, leaving the bones and tail fins. Stingrays are not only fried, but also suitable for drying, hot smoking, and salting. Some people prefer to pickle it like herring. And what soups can be cooked from sardines! Broths are not very rich, so they are perfect for a diet.
Stingray goes well with many products: potatoes, onions, sweet peppers. It also goes well with white wine or beer. Pepper, bay leaves, cloves, and lemon sauce will perfectly season the taste of the tuna.