Sting (biology)

A sting (or stinger) is:

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1. Any 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. The sting of a bee or wasp is a modified ovipositor. The caudal sting, or spine, of a sting ray is a modified dorsal fin ray. The term is sometimes applied to the fang of a snake. Among mammals, the male duck-billed platypus is unique in having a poisonous sting.

Related Topics:
Poison - Scorpion - Bee - Wasp - Ovipositor - Sting ray - Snake - Duck-billed platypus

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2. A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secrets an acrid fluid, as in nettles. The points of these hairs usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid is pressed into it.

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"Sting" also refers to the wound caused by a stinger, and used as a verb "to sting" is to inflict such a wound.

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