Rays and their relatives, the skates, are cartilaginous fish with flat bodies and long, narrow tails. Flattened relatives of sharks, most live on the sea floor in coastal waters. Only a few species, such as manta rays, live in the open sea. Rays' gills and mouths are on the undersides of their bodies. They have large, wing-like fins that they flap as they swim, making them look as if they are flying through the water. They feed on fish and shellfish near the seabed using their rounded teeth for crushing shells. Sometimes they hide in the sand to ambush passing prey.

The largest of the rays, the manta ray grows up to 9 metres (30 feet) across. Its name means “mantle” in Spanish and refers to its cloak-like appearance. It is also called the “devil fish” after its two fins, which look like horns. Dark grey or black on its topside, the manta is pure white on its underside. It has a long, whip-like tail.

A native of tropical oceans, it sometimes floats on the water’s surface, basking in the hot sun. The manta swims by flapping its huge “wings”. It can even leap right out of the water. Like the blue whale and other ocean giants, the manta ray filters the water for small animals to eat, using its sieve-like gills as a strainer.

Stingrays

Stingrays are a family of rays with spines in their tails that can inject a painful poison. This sting is painful to humans, but it is deadly to other fish. Stingrays live mostly in shallow, tropical waters. Their colouring often reflects that of the local sea bed, camouflaging them from predatory sharks.

Golden ray

Golden rays are also known as cownose rays because of their domed heads. With their large “wings”, they are able to cover long distances easily. Attached to their tail is a venomous stinger, nearly 40 centimetres (16 inches) long, but the rays only use them if attacked.

Unlike other rays, golden rays seldom rest on the seabed; they prefer to stay on the move. Swimming in groups, their flapping action stirs up sand on the seabed, exposing clams and oysters for the rays to eat.

Skates

Skates are a group of flat, cartilaginous fish that are relatives of rays. Like rays they have wide "wings" and a long tail, but, unlike rays, they have long snouts. Skates lay eggs (they are oviparous), in a protective hard case called a mermaid's purse, whereas rays give birth to live young (they are viviparous).