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A stinger (or '''sting''') is a common term for a sharp Organ or body part found in various Animal s and Plant s that usually delivers some kind of Venom (usually piercing the skin of another animal) or an electric shock. A poisonous stinger differs from other piercing organs in that it pierces by its own action, as opposed to e.g., Teeth , which pierce by the force of Jaw s, or Thorn s, which pierce by the action of the victim. "Sting" also refers to the wound caused by a stinger, and used as a verb "to sting" is to inflict such a wound. ZOOLOGY stinger, with droplet of Venom ]] The main type of construction of stingers is a sharp organ of offense or defense, especially when connected with a Poison gland, and adapted to inflict a wound by piercing; as the caudal sting of a Scorpion . Among mammals, the male Duck-billed Platypus is unique in having a poisonous sting. The stinger is typically located at the rear of the animal, near the Tail (if any). Animals with stingers include Bee s, Wasp s, Hornet s, and Scorpion s - although the scorpion's stinger is not Homologous to that of the other three, but is rather an example of Convergent Evolution . In ous plates of another bee's Exoskeleton , and retract safely. Another theory is that since all worker bees are sterile and share the queen's genes,it is in the interest of the hive for the bee to kill herself to protect the fertile queen (who shares her genes and can reproduce). The stinger of the wasp is not barbed, and so can sting mammals repeatedly. The caudal sting, or spine, of a Sting Ray is a modified dorsal fin ray. For creatures such as Jellyfish , stinger can refer to the tentacles that carry Cnidocyte s to capture and paralyze prey.
BOTANY A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secrets an acrid fluid, as in Nettle s. The points of these hairs usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid is pressed into it. SEE ALSO SOURCES AND REFERENCES
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