Stingray X-ray

This is an x-ray of a newly discovered species of stingray, native to the Amazon. You can't tell from this shot of its innards, but the Heliotrygon gomesi actually resembles a "pancake with a nose"—big, round, flat, and beige. Read more about this creature at Our Amazing Planet.

Image: Ken Jones

Submitterated by Ajourneyroundmyskull

Maggie Koerth-Baker is the science editor at BoingBoing.net. She writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine and is the author of Before the Lights Go Out, a book about electricity, infrastructure, and the future of energy. You can find Maggie on Twitter and Facebook.

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traalfaz

That. Is. AWESOME. I love rays, they’re extremely cool.
Anonymous

Did anyone else see Goatse in the middle at first…. In fact I was expecting that reference to be in the body of the post.
Skidds

I wonder how James Cameron managed to get it to sign the release form for The Abyss.
cinemajay

Ray-X-Ray?
Calimecita

What a beautiful image!! Now I want one to print and hang on my wall.
Potamotrygonid rays are just beautiful on the outside too. Their spot patterns are so unique, and in addition to the “natural” species, aquarists keep a lot of hybrids and varieties.
They’re extra-cute when they are feeding too, with that amazing protruding mouth. Awww…

Disclaimer: I’m a scientist. :-)
RadioSilence

this is now my desktop image <3
Stonewalker

Am I the only one who is seeing the vague outline of a sexy sexy woman?
- travtastic
  
  I see the well-defined outline of a sexy stingray.
AnotherGeekDad

I’d love to get a print of this. Awesome!
Anonymous

Spiralgraph fun!
daen

As wonderful as they are to look at both inside and outside, am I the only one who looks at this and thinks “… battered, with chips”?
Mister44

So – are those bones – or net of cartilage, or what.
- Anonymous
  
  They are related to sharks who also have cartilage skeletons.
pimlottc

@Mister44 they’re strands of cartilage. National Geographic has an article with additional details and a few more photos

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110309-stingrays-new-species-amazon-science-animals-water/
Cowicide

No one has mentioned H.R. Giger‘s artwork yet, Boing Boing?

For shame, Boingers! For shame!
- Mark Dow
  
  (See first two comments.)
  - Cowicide
    
    (See first two comments.)
    
    For shame on me!!!! For shame!!! Dammut, I glossed right over the first two like a fool.
DeeZed

Gah! It reminds me of a facehugger.

I still get chills when thinking of that movie after 30 odd years.
- Atvaark
  
  Yup, I was about to say something about H.R. Giger.