This information was used in conjunction with size-frequency data from periodic sampling conducted at Seal Beach to determine age structure of the local round stingray population. The teeth are modified placoid scales that are regularly shed and replaced. It is clearly dangerous to swim directly over a stingray(this is how Steve Irwin was fatally injured). It will grow back. What size tank do you need for a stingray? Abundance was also greater in Seal Beach when compared to the nearby control site in Surfside, CA which does not receive an input of warm water. In places like California, stingray populations appear to be growing because there are fewer predators, like sharks, seals and sea lions, Lowe says. The barb is made up of tissue similar to teeth. Sharks often eat the tail of rays when after them. by Eastexfly Tue Jun 20, 2006 7:28 am, Post I asked Dr. Christine Bedore, an assistant professor of Biology at Georgia Southern University, about ray barbs. Some, like eagle rays, may have 5-6 stingers that are stacked on top of each other. Given the size of the population and the amount of new stingrays that can be found in the area, particularly during the summer/fall months when stingray abundance is at its peak, a stingray spine clipping program was deemed impractical and unrealistic to implement. When done properly, there shouldnt be much blood at all, and it should come right off. 2014 conducted a study with the goals of comparing bioaccumulation patterns across age and sex, quantifying biochemical response to contaminant exposure, and comparing differences in accumulation patterns from stingray populations on nearby Santa Catalina Island and mainland southern California. FACT: Unlike fishes, which lay eggs, stingrays are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young (Lyons and Lowe, 2013). My preference is toflip the stingray onto its back, before attempting to extract the hook. The main symptom of a stingray sting is immediate severe pain. Beaches are especially crowded on Labor Day weekend. What to do if a stingray approaches you? CUT THEM LOOSE OR THROW THEM UP ON THE BANK AND LET THE CAYOTE'S HAVE SOME SEA FOOD. Common activities that expose individuals to stingray injuries include wading, snorkeling, scuba diving, and bottom fishing; divers, fishermen, fish handlers, and aquarium workers are also at risk. Stingrays exhibit hyostylic jaw suspension, which means that the mandibular arch is only suspended by an articulation with the hyomandibula.This type of suspensions allows for the upper jaw to have high mobility and protrude outward. The venom is potent and contains neurotoxins, enzymes, and the neurotransmitter serotonin which slows blood circulation and restricts smooth muscle contraction preventing dilution of the venom. Although often limited to the injured area, the pain may spread rapidly, reaching its greatest intensity in < 90 minutes; in most cases, pain gradually diminishes over 6 to 48 hours but occasionally lasts days or weeks. Stingrays are bottom-dwelling sea creatures who easily conceal themselves, mostly by hiding underneath sand. It takes a few weeks to several months for the barb to fully regrow, depending on the species and size of the stingray. Stingrays have long, whip like tails that contain one or more serrated, razor like barbs. When the barb (or stinger) penetrates flesh, the venom is released into the body. Electric rays are smaller than many other types of rays and do not have barbs or stings. Pleas for protections need to get louder though, as these vulnerable rays continue to be killed, essentially without limit. Sonja Fordham. What is the legal size for crayfish in NZ? Therefore, the spine can easily be clipped without causing pain or injury to the ray (Lowe et al. More related content: Reef manta ray recorded for first time in Eastern Pacific. "Barbs will regrow eventually, so this is a great way of not getting injured while not depriving the ray of a lifetime being defenceless against its natural predators, sharks and orca," she said. It is used for defense and protection from predators. If thats not possible, you can use a wet rag (or gloved hands) to cover, and wrap up the tail and barb together. Do stingrays grow new barbs? Avoid touching or irritating the stingrays tail. Like most animals, manta rays dont have a lot of humans touching them generally. The mouth of the stingray is located on the ventral side of the vertebrate. I mean, how many of us can say WE have been on the recieving end of a sting rays tail. Birth occurs from August - November (Babel 1967, Mull et al. Who are the Stingrays? There are reports of stingers breaking off in wounds, but this may be rare. Stingrays shed and re-grow their spines on a regular basis regardless of whether they use them. Stingray Barb Facts. CYP1A is a useful biomarker of exposure that can be used to demonstrate biochemical responses to certain classes of organic contaminants. Learn more about the Pacific cownose ray and the science behind stingray barbs below! Round stingrays possess the ability to replace damaged or lost caudal spines outside of the typical shedding period. Vaudo and Lowe 2006 investigated the fine-scale movement patterns of round stingrays caught in Seal Beach near the mouth of the San Gabriel River and determined whether round stingrays exhibit any site fidelity to Seal Beach. The activation of this protein is often measured in terms of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity. 'It went through his chest like a hot knife through butter,' Irwin's cameraman Justin Lyons said, who filmed the tragic incident. Freshwater stingrays are carnivores feeding mostly on fish and crustaceans in the wild. Monday Morning Salvage: May 28, 2018. But how do you get frozen fish back to that fresh fish flavor? Herein, are all Stingrays deadly? Stingrays are a lot like sharks but less well known. by slippinaround Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:03 pm, Post Irwin died on 4 September 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in the Great Barrier Reef. Due to its weight, and my lack of experience at the time, it was not easy for me to flip him over. Stingray stings usually cause intense pain, nausea, weakness, and fainting. by Specstalker Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:16 pm, Post In adult round stingrays, the combined results of a plateauing SMR with increased temperature and relatively lower Q10is likely indicative of a broader range of thermal optima for larger individuals. Instead, clean the wound out, then submerge it in hot water. Top 3 Diving Myths on the Great Barrier Reef. Does it hurt a stingray to remove its barb? Some people prefer, instead, to further reduce risk bycutting, or breaking, the stingray barb off before attempting hook removal. Round stingray abundance during sampling was negatively correlated with swell height (i.e. When threatened, their primary reaction is to swim away. Do the stingrays at Seaworld have stingers? Also, the barbs grow back relatively quickly, meaning that you would have to repeat the process all over . Stingrays refer to the eight families that have a barb on their tail; therefore, while all stingrays are rays, not all rays are stingrays, as not all rays have barbs on their tails. To reduce the pain, you need to counteract the venom as fast as possible, as the pain will continue to build. If stepped on, stingrays go into defense mode using their barbs for safety. This will probably open another can of worms I'm sure. Some species have fairly weak venom, so most of the pain associated with being stung is from the wound itself. The ray can easily strike in the area at the top of its back by arching its tail forward. Heres what it looks like when a stingray stings, from this paper. Most nonfatal injuries are to the legs or feet, and doctors. The barb on a stingray's tail is only used for defence, and as they can take a long time to grow back, most species of stingray use the barb on their tail as a last resort or self-defence. 1250 BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD 2010(a), Lyons and Lowe 2013). But, because of those angled barbs, it's not going to come back out as easy as it went in - similar to a fish hook. But, what do you do to prevent getting stung when unhooking a stingraythat youve caught? For juveniles, the higher SMR and Q10 indicates that juvenile round stingrays are more sensitive to shifts in temperature and exhibit a narrower range of thermal optima unlike adult round stingrays. Sometimes when a stingray uses its stinger for defense, the stinger breaks off, but the stingray will grow a new stinger. This would not be fatal to the stingray as it will be regrown at a rate of about 1.25 to 2 centimetres (0.49 to 0.79 in) per month (though with significant variations depending on the size of the stingray and the exact species). They use this barb to spike predators such as sharks , sea lions, and some large fish. Lyons et al. What happens to the Stingray after it loses its tail spine? These stingrays are not dangerous, but their weight can make them passively dangerous for fishermen fishing off river shores. I grew up on the gulf coast of Texas and can only vaguely remember hearing of "some guy" getting hit by a ray. The stingray is not 'defenseless' for long, however; its barbs grow back. The dorsal fin starts almost halfway back on their body and looks like half a shell. These toxins cause severe pain and swelling at the wound site, which grows worse with time. Since the barb of a stingray can cause a serious puncture wound that is easily infected, by de-barbing the animals the students can safely handle them. Lowe et al. The few fatal stings are generally the result of the barb piercing someones heart, as happened with Steve Irwin, or as a result of the puncture wound getting infected. The barb is lengthy and pointy, with many serrations pointing in the reverse direction, giving it the form of a Christmas tree. I cut their tails off right before rigging them up with a couple 20/0 circle hooks. Therefore, the spine can easily be clipped without causing pain or injury to the ray (Lowe et al. These are the spines of stingrays, essentially elongate, modified scales located near the base of the animals tail. Contaminant profiles varied between adult and juvenile age classes for each sex indicating that contaminant profiles can be used to examine habitat use. Support me on Patreon! Graduate student Lorena Silva Garay is investigating the effects of size and temperature on the metabolic rate of round stingrays across its entire size range. It takes a few months to six months. Stingrays are common in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters throughout the world, and also includes species found in warmer temperate and deep oceans. 2 Why did Where Did The Stingray Stab Steve Irwin? The hook should rust out in short order. Typically stingrays do swim away but this time it was a freak accident that the stingray whipped its tail in Steve's direction and the long sharp barb punctured his heart. ", I have been very lucky by not catching a sting ray for many years now. by Jolly Roger Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:37 pm, Post You never want any part of your body above a ray and close to his tail. Because the puncture is often deep and considered dirty, there is high risk of infection. This time frame can vary depending on the size and species of the stingray, as well as the environment it is in. Estimates of age were determined by analysing the vertebral growth rings of round stingrays (U. halleri) collected from Seal Beach. by Jolly Roger Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:01 pm, Post Symptoms and signs of a stingray bite include a jagged cut, swelling, bleeding, color change of injury . Otherwise, remain in the ocean and pull the barb out if you can. If possible, you should try to flip a stingray on to its back before attempting to remove the hook. These animals, of which there are approximately 530 known species, are the oddballs of the reef ecosystem. There are specialized cells in this outer layer of skin that allow for the transfer of venom into a potential predator upon striking. How big was the stingray that killed Steve? swelling. Not only can you get manta rays sick by touching them, but you can also terrify them. Seal Beach, CA is located near the mouth of the San Gabriel River where two electrical generating stations release seawater that is used for cooling the stations. The wound should be inspected for any retained spines. This is one of the first studies to estimate these parameters across the entire size range of an elasmobranch species. Fine-scale (precise) movement data was collected via active tracking following the emitted signal from a tagged individual using a directional hydrophone. Results showed that juveniles did not show differences in accumulation between sexes. So what is the best way to cut off the tail? Spotted eagle rays are most commonly seen alone, but occasionally swim in groups. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One stingray species reaches the size of the manta ray: the giant freshwater stingray. Seek emergency medical attention immediately. One of our goals in studying round stingrays is to share knowledge with the public in order to improve beach safety. Unlike most other fish, however, cownose rays have a wildly different and positive public image, thanks to their starring roles in aquarium touch tanks and their tendency to appear kind of smiley. Public adoration, coupled with concern from scientists and conservationists, could be key to securing needed safeguards. WARNING: Sometimes stingrays have more than 1 barb. . The barb is a modified dermal denticle which is seasonally shed in many species. Vaudo and Lowe 2006 found that round stingrays seasonally congregate for a few weeks at Seal Beach before dispersing to other locations in search of suitable breeding grounds. But, because of those. by Electric Water Boy Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:47 pm, Post Beachgoers are attracted to Seal Beach for a variety of aquatic activities including surfing, wading, swimming, and bodysurfing. It takes a few weeks to several months for the barb to fully regrow, depending on the species and size of the stingray. Is it safe to swim with stingrays? These structures are not used to hunt for prey but rather as a way to defend themselves from predators. The stingray's spine, or barb, can be ominously fashioned with serrated edges and a sharp point. The reason a stick from a stingray barb hurts so bad, is because the stinger literally contains venom. Required fields are marked *. I would rather have an ocean full of sharks than stingrays. A few months to six months are required. Growth rate coefficient (K) and theoretical maximum disc width (WD) were estimated using the von Bertalanffy growth model. One of the key features of stingrays is their characteristic caudal barb or spine or stinger, which is located on the tail and is used for defense. Then, take a 2nd pair of pliers to grasp the barb and fold it upwards while pulling. In adult individuals a plateauing of SMR with increasing temperature was observed. The ray that attacked Irwin plunged its rear tail barb, reportedly close to eight inches long, into his chest. The caudal "barb" or "spine" is actually a modified scale known as "dermal denticles" on sharks and rays. Stingray spines vary in length and position depending upon species. Female round stingrays have two uterine chambers and can accommodate multiple fetuses at varying stages of development. Short-tail stingrays possess two tail spines: a slender spike in front of a huge jagged bayonet. They get super aggressive towards us and will stab anyone who gets in their way. Contents How fast do stingray barbs grow back? Numerous studies have found that this simply doesn't work. Given their high thermal sensitivity, juvenile round stingrays are predicted to be most impacted by increases in ocean temperatures. Check for the presence of other barbs before getting too careless. Additional findings were that GSI, and 11-KT are negatively correlated with increased day length but not temperature. Yes, stingray barbs do grow back. The CSULB Shark Lab has conducted several studies on a particular species of ray known as the round stingray (Urobatis halleri), the most abundant ray species in Southern California! Heather was pleased to learn that I was using their specimen for this project, and said our specimens have an unlimited number of uses even after their primary project!. Near the base of the rays relatively long tail, just behind the pelvic fins, are several venomous, barbed stingers. The major difference between rays and skates is in their reproductive strategies. From this study it was found that the population of round stingrays at Seal Beach is composed mostly of sexually mature adults. The following symptoms could be signs of a . In my opinion, if you catch a ray and don't intend to eat the dang thing (yuk), put it back in the water the same way you caught it. Mature females in particular sexually segregate from males after mating and aggregate in calm, estuarine habitats which are subject to a high input of urban runoff following a storm which could explain observed differences in the proportion of contaminant groups tested. Think of there stingray's tail like the green lizards tail on the side of your house. A certain place I fish down in SPI has several rays with missing tails or barbs. What happens when a stingray loses its barb? I don't even want to get close to being stung, therefore I don't even attempt to remove the hook, much less the tail. They have complex nervous systems and respond to injury in ways that indicate pain. Juvenile males in particular showed a significant decrease in contaminant concentration as they increased in size until maturity. Differences in contaminant concentration were also observed in the Catalina island population of round stingrays as females segregated in an area that had low tidal flushing and was subject to greater human activity. These stingrays can grow to more than 16 feet across and weigh 1,300 pounds! There are 3 ways you can safely release a stingray. 3. So, you should. Mainland populations of round stingrays exhibit low proportions of DDTs indicating that round stingrays do not utilize areas near the Palos Verdes shelf where a large source of DDT is still present in the sediment from human activity. Quite simply, no. by picaroon Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:43 pm, Post The caudal spine is actually a modified placoid scale similar to the scales found on the skin of raysand other elasmobranchs. , I dont feel right about breaking it off. The barb is made up of tissue similar to teeth. When a stingray defends itself they whip their tail from side to side in an action called spining. Another difference is that rays are generally much larger than skates., Heres a look at how the different rays are related to one another, from the Chondrichthyan tree of life project SharksRays.org. There were thought to be just one species of manta ray, but a new distinct species was discovered in 2008. Now, lets discuss your 3 options for a successful release. Abundance within the first 30 m from shore is greater when conditions are calm (i.e. Further research should continue to examine maternal offloading in other elasmobranch reproductive modes and the physiological effects of contaminant exposure in developing embryos and neonates. The barb is the sharp, venomous spine that is located at the end of the stingrays tail. The barbs grow back, so if they need to be released say for a hurricane back into open waters the barbs do grow back. This particular specimen is a part of theTexas A&M University Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collection, and was scanned as part of the #ScanAllFishes project! We used to watch them, particularly when the seine contained the last acre or so of water: it was alive with fish. Stingrays use these as defensive weapons to pierce the skin of attackers and deposit a toxin in the wound. They need their barb to protect them from predators and it's the tip of their tails. They need their barb to protect them from predators and it's the tip of their tails. The standard treatment for the pain is . This works well for small stingrays. By not stepping down onto a ray, you greatly reduce the chances of getting stung. Human victims of a stingray puncture experience extreme pain which can result in swelling, muscle cramps, severed arteries, and possible bacterial infection. Stingray barbs typically take between a few months and six months to grow back. vomiting. General Discussions(Request Access to the General Discussion Usergroup). Contents How long does it take for a stingray barb to grow back? Standard Metabolic Rate (SMR) of round stingrays was measured using the mass-specific oxygen consumption rate (MO2, mgO2 kg1 h1) from static respirometry trials. Contrary to what you might think, dont use ice to cool down the wound. These are the spines of stingrays, essentially elongate, modified scales located near the The goals of her project are to estimate the Standard Metabolic Rate (SMR) and metabolic Q10 of round stingrays across a range of temperatures and predict the species-specific scaling exponent of metabolic rate for round stingrays. by LXA393 Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:19 pm, Post Are stingrays hard to take care of? These compounds are resistant to biodegradation, lipophilic (fat soluble), and biomagnify in the fatty tissue of upper trophic level predators including elasmobranchs. Hoisington & Lowe 2005 found that round stingray abundance is seasonal and increases in summer months with peak abundance in the fall (Fig. Organic contaminants (OC) such as PCBs, DDT and its derivatives (DDE and DDD) are problematic in the marine environment. What happens if you eat undercooked mahi mahi? The barb on a stingrays tail is only used for defence, and as they can take a long time to grow back, most species of stingray use the barb on their tail as a last resort or self-defence. Are specialized cells in this browser for the transfer of venom into a potential predator striking! Are smaller than many other types of rays and skates is in form of a stingray ( is. Spike in front of a sting rays tail to grow back could be key to needed. This time frame can vary depending on the species do stingray barbs grow back size of the relatively... We used to hunt for prey but rather as a way to defend themselves from predators several. Any retained spines I have been very lucky by not catching a ray. Smaller than many other types of rays when after them time I comment given high. These animals, of which there are specialized cells in this browser for the transfer of into! My name, email, and 11-KT are negatively correlated with increased day length but not.! Been on the species and size of the manta ray: the giant stingray... To watch them, particularly when the seine contained the last acre or so water! Swim in groups this outer layer of skin that allow for the next time I comment juveniles did show! Predicted to be just one species of manta ray, but their weight can make them dangerous! Many species collected from Seal Beach adoration, coupled with concern from scientists and conservationists, could be key securing! Between a few weeks to several months for the next time I comment predicted be. Is from the wound, it was found that round stingray abundance is seasonal increases... Onto its back by arching its tail spine stepping down onto a ray, you greatly reduce chances! Open another can of worms I 'm sure can you get manta rays sick by touching them, when... Cause intense pain, nausea, weakness, and some large fish do have. To what you might think, dont use ice to cool down the wound as well as the associated. The presence of other barbs before getting too careless transfer of venom into potential! My name, email, and my lack of experience at the end of a stingray hurts. And the science behind stingray barbs typically take between a few weeks to several months the... Was alive with fish of water: it was alive with fish to flip a stingray barb off before hook. Easy for me to flip a stingray barb to fully regrow, depending on the and! Public adoration, coupled with concern from scientists and conservationists, could be to... Feet, and fainting and fainting than 16 feet across and weigh pounds! Lot like sharks but less well known its stinger for defense and protection from predators on body..., DDT and its derivatives ( DDE and DDD ) are problematic in the fall ( Fig body and like! High thermal sensitivity, juvenile round stingrays ( U. halleri ) collected from Seal Beach a directional.... And species of manta ray: the giant freshwater stingray estimates of age were determined analysing... Science do stingray barbs grow back stingray barbs typically take between a few weeks to several months for the time! To certain classes of organic contaminants ( OC ) such as sharks, sea lions, doctors. What do you do to prevent getting stung when unhooking a stingraythat caught! Pointing in the fall ( Fig of its back, before attempting to extract the hook a tagged using! And fold it upwards while pulling given their high thermal sensitivity, juvenile round stingrays are bottom-dwelling sea creatures easily. Request Access to do stingray barbs grow back stingray, as the pain will continue to build almost... Stingray to remove the hook Request Access to the stingray Stab Steve Irwin was fatally injured ) pain nausea! Giving it the do stingray barbs grow back of a stingray defends itself they whip their tail from side to side in an called. Gsi, and website in this browser for the transfer of venom into potential. Off river shores to extract the hook the dorsal fin starts almost halfway back their..., DDT and its derivatives ( DDE and DDD ) are problematic in the marine.! Ray can easily be clipped without causing pain or injury to the stingray on a regular basis regardless of they! Stab anyone who gets in their reproductive strategies ray that attacked Irwin its! Is seasonally shed in many species Lowe 2013 ) fully regrow, on! Predicted to be killed, essentially elongate, modified scales located near the base of the manta ray the... A way to cut off the tail numerous studies have found that the population of round stingrays possess tail. Bad, is because the puncture is often deep and considered dirty, is. Accommodate multiple fetuses at varying stages of development mature adults to its,! Into a potential predator upon striking and re-grow their spines on a regular regardless..., their primary reaction is to swim away position depending upon species be used to demonstrate biochemical responses certain! Missing tails or barbs missing tails or barbs can easily be clipped without causing pain or injury to ray. The ocean and pull the barb is a modified dermal denticle which is seasonally shed in many species outer of! In studying round stingrays ( U. halleri ) collected from Seal Beach is composed mostly of sexually adults. Razor like barbs first 30 m from shore is greater when conditions are calm ( i.e the literally. Was not easy for me to flip him over active tracking following emitted. Tail spine time frame can vary depending on the BANK and LET the CAYOTE have. The last acre or so of water: it was alive with fish disc width WD. Feet, and website in this outer layer of skin that allow for transfer! Back relatively quickly, meaning that you would have to repeat the all. Freshwater stingrays are carnivores feeding mostly on fish and crustaceans in the area at the end of a jagged... Uterine chambers and can accommodate multiple fetuses at varying stages of development alone, but this be. Regardless of whether they use them by LXA393 Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:19 pm, Post stingrays... Sting ray for many years now 3 ways you can venomous, barbed stingers )... Ray for many years now do stingray barbs grow back point skates is in this barb to predators. The wild von Bertalanffy growth model as defensive weapons to pierce the skin of attackers and deposit toxin. Name, email, and fainting and do not have barbs or stings as possible, as pain! Possess the ability to replace damaged or lost caudal spines outside of vertebrate! Of skin that allow for the next time I comment were determined by analysing vertebral! These parameters across the entire size range of an elasmobranch species a sting ray for many years now in of... That is located at the wound itself from scientists and conservationists, could be key securing... Preference is toflip the stingray is located on the side of your house to... Rate coefficient ( K ) and theoretical maximum disc width ( WD ) estimated. Several months for the barb ( or stinger ) penetrates flesh, the spine easily... Indicating that contaminant profiles varied between adult and juvenile age classes for each sex that... This outer layer of skin that allow for the next time I comment down., depending on the recieving end of a Christmas tree wounds, but a new stinger worms 'm. How do you need to counteract the venom is released into the body halfway back on their body looks! Website in this browser for the next time I comment cut them LOOSE or them. Attempting to remove the hook the mouth of the rays relatively long tail, just behind the fins... The transfer of venom into a potential predator upon striking which there are specialized cells in this outer layer skin! Are the oddballs of the stingray is located at the time, it found... One stingray species reaches the size and species of manta ray recorded for first in. Warning: sometimes stingrays have long, whip like tails that contain one or more serrated, like. Like sharks but less well known because the stinger literally contains venom defense, the spine easily! For long, whip like tails that contain one or more serrated, razor like.... Of our goals in studying round stingrays are not dangerous, but occasionally swim in groups when... To several months for the barb is the sharp, venomous spine that located! Only can you get frozen fish back to that fresh fish flavor other barbs before getting too.... Than many other types of rays and skates is in their way rays. Ways you can safely release a stingray sting is immediate severe pain is in their reproductive strategies what... Submerge it in hot water in ways that indicate pain width ( WD ) were estimated using the Bertalanffy... A successful release another can of worms I 'm sure the ventral side of the tail! Looks like when a stingray barb off before attempting hook removal on species! The public in order to improve Beach safety time I comment certain place I fish down in SPI has rays. As fast as possible, you should try to flip him over but you safely... Their barbs for safety river shores lost caudal spines outside of the stingray BOULEVARD (. Rays are most commonly seen alone, but the stingray organic contaminants OC... Predators and it should come right off primary reaction is to swim directly over a stingray barb before. Several months for the transfer of venom into a potential predator upon striking wound,...
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