Rays

Rays are fish that have cartilage instead of bones to support their bodies. They are flat, burying themselves in sand along ocean bottoms by day and hunting for prey at night. A ray’s barbed tail is venomous, a great adaptation against predators. Like sharks, they can find their prey by detecting their electrical signals. They may also use electricity for navigation while swimming.

Some rays forage alone, seeking occasional protection or mates in small groups. Others may gather in schools of up to several thousand individuals, jumping and smacking the water to communicate with each other. Female rays give birth to one or more live pups after about up to a year of gestation, depending on the species. Pups are independent as soon as they’re born, looking like smaller versions of mom, but it takes several years for them to mature, and rays can live 20 years or longer.