(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

(Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

Ever wondered what it feels like to touch a stingray?

Starting this week, you can find out atShedd Aquarium’s “Stingray Touch,” a shallow pool that allows visitors to dip their hands into 78-degree water and discover the unique texture and movement of a school of stingrays.

As for the stingray’s sharp and potentially venomous tail spine, or stinger, there’s no need to worry: the rays in Shedd’s “Stingray Touch” exhibit have had their barbs clipped, making them “touch ready.”

Even with their stingers intact, stingrays are not aggressive and only attack humans when provoked, such as when a stingray is stepped on or approached while camouflaged on the ocean floor.

In fact, Shedd’s stingrays have displayed affection for their human handlers on the aquarium’s stingray team. In a blog post, Shedd aquarists described how the stingrays followed them around the pool and snuggled up to the toe of one of their boots.

“There are so many animals people can’t get close to,” said senior aquarist Alice Bereman. “This is a species that is very gentle.”

Bereman said the rays follow her and other members of the stingray team when they have waders on and even sit on their boots.

Watching a school of rays glide through the water shows that they stay in touch with each other, brushing wingtips or fluttering over and under each other, Bereman said.

“They are just such beautiful animals,” she said. “They look like a flock of birds.”

“Stingray Touch” is an outdoor experience with Shedd’s warmer-water rays and is open seasonally from late May through October.

Follow Alex Ruppenthal on Twitter:@arupp

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