#ray post

The Sixgill Stingray is a heavy-bodied fish. Described only in 1980, it is unique among rays in having six pairs of gill slits rather than five. This ray can grow up to lengths of 5.6 ft and is one of few species that gives live birth, with litters of two to five pups.

@can-i-take-a-stab

*these are starting to get away from me 😅 whoops. Here's the actual fact*

The Tiger River Ray is a species of freshwater ray. This endangered species is endemic to black- and whitewater rivers in the upper Amazon basin in northeastern Peru. So little is known about its population and reproductive habits that it is impossible to say what its status is in the wild.

The Cowtail Stingray (aka feather tail stingray), often form small groups when resting. The typical size of such groups is three individuals arranged in a "rosette" formation with their tails pointing outward. This appears to be an anti-predator behavior, as the close circular arrangement of the rays allows them to see predators approaching from any direction. The rosette also orients their less critical tails, containing mechanoreceptors that comprise a secondary warning system, towards potential threats.

Native to the shallow coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Spiny Butterfly Ray is a large ray that can measure over 6 ft 7 in across, it may be distinguished from the smooth butterfly ray by the spine at the base of its tail and by a small tentacular structure on the margin of each spiracle.

The average lifespan of a Giant Devil Ray is 20 years. It is an epipelagic species and has a very low reproductive capacity. This means that the species gives birth to a single offspring at unknown intervals. It can be predicted that at the rate that its population is declining now, the population will decline by at least 50% in the next 60 years.😞

The largest whip-tail stingray in the Atlantic, the Roughtail Stingray grows up to 8.5 ft across and weighs up to 800 lbs. The many thorns on its back and tail serve to distinguish it from other stingrays that share its range. It is also one of the deepest-diving stingrays, and has been recorded at a depth of ~900 ft in the Bahamas.