Ray

A giant manta, the largest and most iconic member of the batoidea

**Rays**, also known as **Batoidea**, are a superorder of cartilaginous fish. They and their close relatives, the sharks, comprise the subclass Elasmobranchii. Rays are the largest group of cartilaginous fishes, with well over 600 species in 26 families. Rays are distinguished by their flattened bodies, enlarged pectoral fins that are fused to the head, and gill slits that are placed on their ventral surfaces.

## Anatomy

Rays are flat-bodied, and, like sharks, are cartilaginous marine fish, meaning they have a boneless skeleton made of a tough, elastic substance. Most rays have five ventral slot-like body openings called gill slits that lead from the gills, but the Hexatrygonidae have six. Ray gill slits lie under the pectoral fins on the underside, whereas a shark's are on the sides of the head. Most rays have a flat, disk-like body, with the exception of the guitarfishes and sawfishes, while most sharks have a spindle-shaped body. Many species of ray have developed their pectoral fins into broad flat wing-like appendages. The anal fin is absent. The eyes and spiracles are located on top of the head. Batoids have a ventrally located mouth and can considerably protrude their upper jaw (palatoquadrate cartilage) away from the cranium to capture prey, just as sharks can. The jaws have euhyostylic type suspension, which relies completely on the hyomandibular cartilages for support. Bottom-dwelling rays breathe by taking water in through the spiracles, rather than through the mouth as most fishes do, and passing it outward through the gills.

## Reproduction

Rays reproduce in a number of ways. As is characteristic of elasmobranchs, rays undergo internal fertilisation. Internal fertilisation is advantageous to batoids as it conserves sperm, does not expose eggs to consumption by predators, and ensures that all the energy involved in reproduction is retained and not lost to the environment. All skates and some rays are oviparous (egg laying) while other rays are ovoviviparous, meaning that they give birth to young which develop in a womb but without involvement of a placenta.

The eggs of oviparous skates are laid in leathery egg cases that are commonly known as mermaid's purses and which often wash up empty on beaches in areas where skates are common.

## Habitat

Most species of ray live on the sea floor, in a variety of geographical regions — mainly in coastal waters, although some live in deep waters to at least 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). Most rays have a cosmopolitan distribution, preferring tropical and subtropical marine environments, although there are temperate and cold-water species. Only a few species, like manta rays, live in the open sea, and only a few live in freshwater, while some rays can live in brackish bays and estuaries.

## Feeding Habits

Most rays have developed heavy, rounded teeth for crushing the shells of bottom-dwelling species such as snails, clams, oysters, crustaceans, and some fish, depending on the species. Manta rays, the largest species, feed entirely on plankton.

## Classification

The classification of rays is currently undergoing revision; however, molecular evidence refutes the hypothesis that skates and rays are derived sharks. Nelson's 2006 *Fishes of the World* recognizes four orders. The Mesozoic Sclerorhynchoidea are basal or *incertae sedis*; they show features of the Rajiformes but have snouts resembling those of sawfishes. However, evidence indicates they are probably the sister group to sawfishes.

* **Myliobatiformes (Stingrays and their relatives)-** Myliobatiformes include stingrays, butterfly rays, eagle rays, and manta rays. They were formerly included in the order Rajiformes, but more-recent phylogenetic studies have shown that they are a monophyletic group, and that its more-derived members evolved their highly flattened shapes independently of the skates.
	+ Family Aetobatidae (pelagic eagle rays)
	+ Family Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays)
	+ Family Gymnuridae (butterfly rays)
	+ Family Hexatrygonidae (sixgill stingrays)
	+ Family Mobulidae (mantas and devil rays)
	+ Family Myliobatidae (eagle rays)
	+ Family Plesiobatidae (giant stingarees)
	+ Family Potamotrygonidae (Neotropical stingrays)
	+ Family Rhinopteridae (cownose rays)
	+ Family Urolophidae (stingarees)
	+ Family Urotrygonidae (round stingrays)
* **Rajiformes (Skates and their relatives)-** Rajiformes include skates, guitarfishes, and wedgefishes. They are distinguished by the presence of greatly enlarged pectoral fins, which reach as far forward as the sides of the head, with a generally flattened body. The undulatory pectoral fin motion diagnostic to this taxon is known as rajiform locomotion. The eyes and spiracles are located on the upper surface of the body, and the gill slits on the underside. They have flattened, crushing teeth, and are generally carnivorous. Most species give birth to live young, although some lay eggs inside a protective capsule or mermaid's purse.
	+ Family Anacanthobatidae (legskates)
	+ Family Arhynchobatidae (softnose skates)
	+ Family Gurgesiellidae (pygmy skates)
	+ Family Rajidae (skates)
* **Torpediniformes** **(Electric Rays)-** The electric rays have electric organs in their pectoral fin discs that generate electric current. They are used to immobilize prey and for defense. The current is strong enough to stun humans, and the ancient Greeks and Romans used these fish to treat ailments such as headaches. Four families currently exist.
	+ Family Hypnidae (coffin rays)
	+ Family Narcinidae (numbfishes)
	+ Family Narkidae (sleeper rays)
	+ Family Torpedinidae (torpedo rays)
* **Rhinopristiformes** **(Sawfish, Shovelnose rays and their relatives)-** The sawfishes are shark-like in form, having tails used for swimming and smaller pectoral fins than most batoids. The pectoral fins are attached above the gills as in all batoids, giving the fishes a broad-headed appearance. They have long, flat snouts with a row of tooth-like projections on either side. The snouts are up to 1.8 metres (6 ft) long, and 30 centimetres (1 ft) wide, and are used for slashing and impaling small fishes and to probe in the mud for embedded animals. Sawfishes can enter freshwater rivers and lakes. Some species reach a total length of 6 metres (20 ft) and several prehistoric sawfish (themselves distant relatives of modern sawfish) such as the giant Onchopristus exceeded this size. All living sawfish species are classified as endangered or critically endangered. Seven families exist in modern times.
	+ Family Glaucostegidae (giant guitarfishes)
	+ Family Platyrhinidae (fanrays)
	+ Family Pristidae (sawfishes)
	+ Family Rhinidae (wedgefishes)
	+ Family Rhinobatidae (guitarfishes)
	+ Family Trygonorrhinidae (banjo rays)
	+ Family Zanobatidae (panrays)

## Differences Between Sharks and Rays

Sharks and rays are both cartilaginous fishes which can be contrasted with bony fishes. Rays are adapted for feeding on the bottom. Guitarfish are somewhat between sharks and rays, and show characteristics of both (though they are classified as rays).