RAYs & SKATES

Rays and skates are closely related to sharks and all are members of the group of fish called elasmobranchs. This group all have cartilaginous skeletons and 5 or more gill slits on each side.

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RAYs

Some lay egg cases ( oviparous) and some give birth to live young ( viviparous)
Dorsoventrally flattened
Enlarged pectoral fins
Dorsally positioned eyes
Ventrally positioned mouths, gill, and nostrils
Fossil record for rays goes as far back as 150 mya
Largest ray is the Giant Manta Ray
Many stingrays coloration reflects the color of their environment- they can camouflage
The tail of a stingray often contains a serrated barb
- This barb may produce venom
Encompasses 3 orders:
- Rhinopristiformes
  - Sawfishes
  - Guitarfishes
  - Wedgefishes
- Myliobatiformes
  - Stingrays
    - 300+ extant species
    - The “common” appearance of a stingray
- Torpediniformes
  - Electric rays

Lesser Electric Ray
(Narcine bancroftii)
Image: Gabriel Jensen

Giant ( Oceanic) Manta Ray
(Manta birostris- now Mobula birostris)
Image: Jillian Morris

Spotted Eagle Ray
(Aetobatus narinari)
Image: Sophie Hart

Southern Stingray ( Hypanus americanus)
Image: Jillian Morris

Yellow Stingrays (Urobatis jamaicensis) mating
Image: Kelly Tyler

SKATES

Oviparous
- Eggs are known as “mermaid purses”
Similar in appearance to rays
Small teeth
Generally much smaller than rays
Common skate is the largest skate at 250 cm
They do not have spines
Carnivorous
Order Rajiformes
- Family Rajidae
Most skates have dorsal spines
Some skates have weak electrical organs that potentially allow them to communicate with other skates
Pelvic fins can be used as modified feet- can be seen using them to “walk” on the seafloor