Ray

ray, any of the cartilaginous fishes of the order Batoidei, related to sharks and placed with them in the class Chondrichthyes. The order includes 534 species.

Rays are distinguished from sharks by a flattened, disklike body, with the five gill openings and the mouth generally located on the underside. Rays are further distinguished from sharks by their greatly enlarged, winglike pectoral fins, which extend forward along the sides of the head above the gill openings. Many rays swim and breathe differently from sharks, propelling themselves with their pectoral fins and taking in water for respiration through large openings (spiracles) on the upper surface of the head, rather than through the mouth. The ray’s tail is generally long and slender and in many species bears one or more sharp, saw-edged, venomous spines that can be used to inflict painful wounds.

Rays are predominantly marine and are found in all oceans. Many are slow-moving bottom dwellers. Manta rays feed on plankton and small animals; others take various fishes and invertebrates, sometimes damaging commercially valuable shellfish beds. Other than skates, most or possibly all rays bear living young. Fertilization is internal, the male introducing sperm into the female by means of special copulatory organs (claspers) that are the modified edges of the pelvic fins.

Rays can be classified into the following groups: electric rays, sawfishes, skates, and various families of rays that have slender, whiplike tails equipped with spines and that are all-inclusively called stingrays, or whip-tailed rays.

The electric rays (suborder Torpedinoidei) are distinguished by large paired electric organs between the pectoral fins and the head, with which they can give powerful shocks either for defensive purposes or to kill prey. The electric rays have a smooth and naked skin; the head and trunk with the pectoral fins form a circular disk, and the tail is short and stout. About 20 species are known to inhabit warm seas, with some reaching a weight of 200 pounds (90 kg).

All other types of rays, which lack electric organs, generally have a rough skin, often bearing strong spines. The sawfishes (family Pristidae) have a snout that is modified into a long blade possessing a series of strong teeth on each side. About six species are known from warm seas, frequenting sandy shores and estuaries.

In the skates (suborder Rajoidei), the large pectoral fins extend to the snout and backward, stopping abruptly at the base of a slender tail. In contrast to other rays, skates produce eggs; these are large and oblong in shape with dark, leathery shells having a tendril at each corner by which they become fastened to seaweed or other objects. Skates lack the long, slender barbed spine that distinguishes stingrays. The most widespread skates belong to the genus Raja of the family Rajidae.

Learn about the perfectly camouflaged and heavily armed stingrays, yet a tourist attraction on the Moorea islandSee all videos for this article

See the majestic manta rays swimming in the waters of Great Barrier Reef, off the eastern coast of AustraliaSee all videos for this article

The remaining rays comprise the suborder Myliobatoidei and consist of whip-tailed rays (family Dasyatidae), butterfly rays (Gymnuridae), stingrays (Urolophidae), eagle rays (Myliobatidae), manta rays (or devil rays; Mobulidae), and cow-nosed rays (Rhinopteridae). Common to the rays of all these families is a long, slender, whiplike tail that usually has a barbed spine connected with a poison gland; this spine is capable of inflicting serious wounds and is a dangerous weapon when the tail is lashed. Almost all of these rays are inhabitants of warm seas, except for a few species of stingray that live in the rivers of South America.

Visit the South Pacific island of Moorea and watch the spotted eagle ray, the manta ray, and the stingray, also see a group of scientists trying to study the tiger sharksSee all videos for this article

The guitarfishes are a group of fishes that are closely related to the rays and are either classified as a separate order (Rhinobatiformes) or as a suborder (Rhinobatoidei) of the ray order (Batoidei).

For more information on species and groups of rays, see manta ray; electric ray; guitarfish; sawfish; skate; stingray.