Meet the Zoo: Willis the Stingray

Did you know that fish and stingrays have personalities?

Next time you’re at the , spend some time in front of the Flooded Forest tank and you just might see some interesting behaviors. Red- and orange-bellied piranha swim in the water while tiny tetras, corycats, hatchet fish, and others flitter about in the vines and logs. And then, there’s Willis.

Willis is a beautiful cream-and-chocolate-spotted stingray; one of many species of freshwater stingrays found in South America. Stingrays are naturally mild mannered, but no one would want to accidentally step on one. Those barbs on their tails are for their protection and can really hurt.  In fact, stepping on a stingray is more of a concern for people stepping into the Amazon than the prospect of encountering piranha.

Living with a school of 15 piranha keeps Willis on his toes … rather, his fins. Willis has some natural behaviors that help him keep his cool around this toothy crew.  Stingrays often cover themselves with sand by laying flat and fluttering their fins to fan sand over their backs.  Their protruding eyes sit on top of their head, allowing them to stay out of sight but keep an eye out for predators or prey. 

Stingrays are mostly scavengers, helping clean the ocean or river beds of fishy remains.  When the piranha drop bits of fish from their meals, Willis glides around the bottom of the tank, munching on whatever he finds. Many visitors are fascinated to watch him eat – if he is eating near the viewing window you can see his mouth, which is underneath his body, allowing him to scoop food on the go.

Willis also likes to play in the airstream at the side of the tank. You can watch him “climb” the wall in the front left corner of the window as he rides the air bubbles.  Perhaps it tickles.

Keepers have trained Willis to feed on cue. One of the artificial bamboo poles has a little light at its bottom. When the light goes on, Willis has learned it’s a cue for a treat that is sent down the tube. 

So next time you are gazing at the glittering fish in the Flooded Forest tank, be sure to look down and scan the sandy bottom for a pair of eyes … Willis may even be looking at you.