Sealife guideRays: graceful gliders of the seaMarine vertebrates

Last updated on 08/22/2025 at 10:42 PM

Rays, just like sharks, are fish with the unique feature of having a cartilaginous skeleton. They are part of the elasmobranchs, a subclass of cartilaginous fish grouped within the class Chondrichthyes.

Classification

Rays are classified into three main orders, namely:

the order Myliobatiformes13 species

Fantail stingray
(Pastinachus sephen)

Southern stingray
(Dasyatis americana)

Spotted eagle ray
(Aetobatus ocellatus)

Yellow stingray
(Urobatis jamaicensis)

the order Rajiformes3 species

Big skate
(Raja binoculata)

Blonde skate
(Raja brachyura)

Thornback ray
(Raja clavata)

the order Torpédiniformes6 species

Blackspotted electric ray
(Torpedo fuscomaculata)

Bullseye electric ray
(Diplobatis ommata)

Ocellate torpedo
(Torpedo torpedo)

Yellow-spotted fanray
(Platyrhina tangi)

Description

Rays are characterized by a flattened body that extends on each side into large pectoral fins called “wings.” The body and pectoral fins form a single continuous structure. Unlike sharks, the gill slits are located on the ventral side of the ray and number five pairs for most species.

The yellow stingray has a flattened, oval-shaped body

Rays display colors and patterns that allow them to blend easily with their surroundings.

Geographic range and habitat

Rays are found in all seas and oceans across the globe, at all latitudes and depths: from warm tropical waters to icy polar regions, from shallow coastal waters and coral reefs to deep waters!

While most rays live on or buried in the seafloor, some species are pelagic, such as the manta ray or eagle rays.

Diet

Rays remain camouflaged in their environment to avoid predators and to ambush their prey more effectively.

The manta ray feeds on plankton

Rays have a very varied diet. Their menu mainly includes benthic species such as gastropods, shellfish and crustaceans, while the manta ray feeds exclusively on plankton.

Reproduction

In most fish, fertilization is external, occurring after the release of male and female gametes into the seawater. However, rays, like sharks, are an exception to this rule and exhibit internal fertilization.

A ray egg case washed up on a beach in Vendée, France

All rays exhibit internal fertilization, but the development and nourishment of the embryo vary depending on the species. Some rays are oviparous, while others are ovoviviparous.

Did you know ?

The manta ray is the largest ray in the world, reaching up to 30 feet in length for the largest individuals!
Some ray species have a stinger at the base of the tail, whose sting can be painful and sometimes even lethal.
Rays are capable of leaping out of the water !

Discover rays

Atlantic guitarfish
(Rhinobatos lentiginosus)

Atlantic white-spotted eagle ray
(Aetobatus narinari)

Big skate
(Raja binoculata)

Blackspotted electric ray
(Torpedo fuscomaculata)

Blonde skate
(Raja brachyura)

Giant manta
(Mobula birostris)

Halavi guitarfish
(Glaucostegus halavi)

Lesser electric ray
(Narcine bancroftii)

Ocellate torpedo
(Torpedo torpedo)

Sepia stingray
(Urolophus aurantiacus)

Southern stingray
(Dasyatis americana)

Spotted eagle ray
(Aetobatus ocellatus)

Thornback ray
(Raja clavata)

White spotted wedgefish
(Rhynchobatus australiae)

Yellow-spotted fanray
(Platyrhina tangi)

Yellow stingray
(Urobatis jamaicensis)

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