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 Myliobatiformes12 species

Atlantic white-spotted eagle ray
(Aetobatus narinari)

Darkspotted stingray
(Himantura uarnak)

Reef manta ray
(Mobula alfredi)

Ribbontail stingray
(Taeniura lymma)

the order Rajiformes2 species

Big skate
(Raja binoculata)

Thornback ray
(Raja clavata)

the order Torpédiniformes5 species

Blackspotted electric ray
(Torpedo fuscomaculata)

Bullseye electric ray
(Diplobatis ommata)

Lesser electric ray
(Narcine bancroftii)

Ocellate torpedo
(Torpedo torpedo)

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)

Black blotched stingray
(Taeniura meyeni)

Blue spotted stingray
(Neotrygon kuhlii)

Bullseye electric ray
(Diplobatis ommata)

Darkspotted stingray
(Himantura uarnak)

Fantail stingray
(Pastinachus sephen)

Giant manta
(Mobula birostris)

Lesser electric ray
(Narcine bancroftii)

Pacific white-spotted eagle ray
(Aetobatus laticeps)

Panther electric ray
(Torpedo panthera)

Ribbontail stingray
(Taeniura lymma)

Shovelnose guitarfish
(Pseudobatos productus)

Spotted eagle ray
(Aetobatus ocellatus)

White spotted wedgefish
(Rhynchobatus australiae)

Yellow stingray
(Urobatis jamaicensis)

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