AI Animal Encyclopedia

ray

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Class Chondrichthyes, Order Rajiformes, Family Rajidae (for skates and rays), with various genera including Dasyatis (stingrays) and Myliobatis (eagle rays)
Rays are typically found in shallow coastal waters, but they can also inhabit deeper oceanic environments. Some species prefer sandy or muddy bottoms while others may be found over rocky substrates.
Rays vary greatly in body length depending on the species. For example, the common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) can reach lengths of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet), while the giant manta ray (Manta birostris) can grow up to 7 meters (23 feet) across.
The weight of rays can also vary significantly. Smaller species like the bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) weigh around 5 kg (11 lbs), while larger species like the manta ray can weigh over 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs).
The lifespan of rays varies by species. Many can live for 10 to 25 years in the wild, but some larger species may live longer, potentially up to 50 years.
Rays are generally carnivorous, feeding on a diet that includes mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. They often use their flattened bodies to camouflage themselves on the ocean floor while hunting.
Rays are primarily benthic, meaning they often dwell near or on the seabed. They exhibit behaviors such as burying themselves in sand for camouflage and using their pectoral fins for swimming.
Natural predators of rays include larger fish such as sharks, as well as humans who fish for them. Some species of rays have defensive mechanisms, including venomous spines.
Rays are closely related to sharks and are part of a group called elasmobranchs, which have skeletons made of cartilage rather than bone. Some rays, like stingrays, have a barbed stinger that can deliver painful venom. Rays also play a crucial role in marine ecosystems as both predators and prey.