But this isn’t scientifically accurate and can be confusing. While those with shorter snouts are called rays. In the UK, species with long snouts are often known as skates. Visit our Great Eggcase Hunt Project to find out more. Whereas rays give birth to live young.īECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST - help us search the shores for washed up shark and skate eggcases! Eggcase hunting is great fun for all the family and you’ll be helping shark conservation at the same time. Some rays have a stinging spine on the tail, which skates don't have.Īnother key difference is that skates reproduce by laying eggs. A skate’s tail tends to be stockier, whereas a ray’s is slender and whip-like. There are some subtle physical differences but the tail may provide the best clue. But other rays, such as stingrays, butterfly rays and devil rays can be trickier. Identifying electric rays, sawfish and guitarfish, is usually quite straightforward. They're able to emit up to 50 shocks in 10 minutes! And the rostrum wielding sawfish, which uses its saw-like snout to stun its prey.Īustralia’s Coffin Ray can pack a 200 volt kick to fight off predators. Electric rays that can deliver a powerful shock. From the graceful Manta Ray, the largest ray in the world reaching up to 9m. There are over 600 species of skate and ray worldwide. When buried, skates and rays rely on these to provide them with oxygen. With their gills and nostrils buried in sand you may be wondering how they breathe? All sharks have two small breathing holes found near the eyes. Either hiding from predators or lying in wait for unsuspecting prey. Skates and rays spend a lot of time buried in the sand. Their mouth, nostrils and gills are located on the underside of their body. They're flatter in shape, which makes them well suited for life on the sea-floor. Skates and rays are very closely related to sharks.
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