Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Getting that annual check-up can feel daunting for anyone. For a 140-pound leopard whiptail ray (Himantura undulata) living at the New England Aquarium in Boston, it’s a whole other animal. At the weight of an adult human with a four-foot-three-inch wingspan, just moving the giant fish from its habitat to an exam pool is an exercise in teamwork. “This process requires eight people on average, so we must ensure we have proper staffing to perform these exams safely from both an animal and human safety aspect,” Dr. Kathy Tuxbury, the New England Aquarium’s Senior Veterinarian, tells Popular Science. Bringing such a large ray from its habitat into an exam pool takes at least eight people. Image: New England Aquarium.Vanessa Kahn Leopard whiptail rays (also called leopard whip rays) have leopard-like spots and very long, thin tails that can be two to four times the length of their bodies. These tails help them balance, steer through the water, and defend themselves against …