Editing Stingray (section)

===Reproduction===
[[File:Mobula breach 2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mobula]] (devil rays) are thought to [[Cetacean surfacing behaviour|breach]] as a form of courtship.]]
During the [[breeding season]], males of various stingray species such as the [[round stingray]] (''Urobatis halleri''), may rely on their [[ampullae of Lorenzini]] to sense certain electrical signals given off by mature females before potential [[copulation (zoology)|copulation]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tricasa |first1=Timothy C. |last2=Michael |first2=Scott W. |last3=Sisneros |first3=Joseph A. |title=Electrosensory optimization to conspecific phasic signals for mating |journal=Neuroscience Letters |date=December 1995 |volume=202 |issue=1–2 |pages=129–132 |doi=10.1016/0304-3940(95)12230-3 |pmid=8787848 }}</ref> When a male is courting a female, he follows her closely, biting at her pectoral disc. He then places one of his two claspers into her valve.<ref>[http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/fwraybehfaq.htm FAQs on Freshwater Stingray Behavior] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002070831/http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/fwraybehfaq.htm |date=2017-10-02 }}. Wetwebmedia.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-17.</ref>

Reproductive ray behaviors are associated with their [[behavioral endocrinology]], for example, in species such as the [[atlantic stingray]] (''Hypanus sabinus''), social groups are formed first, then the sexes display complex [[courtship display|courtship]] behaviors that end in pair [[copulation (zoology)|copulation]] which is similar to the species ''Urobatis halleri.''<ref name = hormone>{{cite journal |last1=Tricas |first1=Timothy C. |last2=Rasmussen |first2=L. E. L. |last3=Maruska |first3=Karen P. |title=Annual Cycles of Steroid Hormone Production, Gonad Development, and Reproductive Behavior in the Atlantic Stingray |journal=General and Comparative Endocrinology |date=2000 |volume=118 |issue=2 |pages=209–25 |doi=10.1006/gcen.2000.7466 |pmid=10890563 }}</ref> Furthermore, their mating period is one of the longest recorded in elasmobranch fish. Individuals are known to mate for seven months before the females ovulate in March. During this time, the male stingrays experience increased levels of androgen hormones which has been linked to its prolonged mating periods.<ref name = hormone/> The behavior expressed among males and females during specific parts of this period involves aggressive social interactions.<ref name = hormone/> Frequently, the males trail females with their snout near the female vent then proceed to bite the female on her fins and her body.<ref name = hormone/> Although this mating behavior is similar to the species ''Urobatis halleri'', differences can be seen in the particular actions of ''Hypanus sabinus''. Seasonal elevated levels of serum androgens coincide with the expressed aggressive behavior, which led to the proposal that androgen steroids start, indorse and maintain aggressive sexual behaviors in the male rays for this species which drives the prolonged mating season. Similarly, concise elevations of serum androgens in females has been connected to increased aggression and improvement in [[mate choice]]. When their androgen steroid levels are elevated, they are able to improve their mate choice by quickly fleeing from tenacious males when undergoing ovulation succeeding impregnation. This ability affects the paternity of their offspring by refusing less qualified mates.<ref name = hormone/>

Stingrays are [[ovoviviparous]], bearing live young in "litters" of five to thirteen. During this period, the female's behavior transitions to support of her future offspring. Females hold the embryos in the womb without a placenta. Instead, the embryos absorb nutrients from a [[yolk sac]] and after the sac is depleted, the mother provides uterine "milk".<ref>[http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/AtlanticStingray/AtlanticStingray.html Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department: Atlantic Stingray] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104222940/https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/AtlanticStingray/AtlanticStingray.html |date=2016-01-04 }}. Flmnh.ufl.edu. Retrieved on 2012-07-17.</ref> After birth, the offspring generally disassociate from the mother and swim away, having been born with the instinctual abilities to protect and feed themselves. In a very small number of species, like the [[giant freshwater stingray]] (''Urogymnus polylepis''), the mother "cares" for her young by having them swim with her until they are one-third of her size.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seubert |first1=Curtis |title=How Do Stingrays Take Care of Their Young? |date=April 24, 2017 |url=https://sciencing.com/do-stingrays-care-young-8791629.html |access-date=December 14, 2018 |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031207/https://sciencing.com/do-stingrays-care-young-8791629.html |work=Sciencing|url-status=live }}</ref>

At the [[Sea Life London Aquarium]], two female stingrays delivered seven baby stingrays, although the mothers have not been near a male for two years. This suggests some species of rays can store sperm then give birth when they deem conditions to be suitable.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/stingrays-born-in-female-only-tank-20110810-1imik.html |title=Stingrays born in female only tank |date=2011-08-10 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=2020-07-25 |archive-date=2020-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725012114/https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/stingrays-born-in-female-only-tank-20110810-1imik.html |url-status=live }}</ref>