Some Interesting Skates and Rays
The little skate is found in the Atlantic from North Carolina to Nova Scotia. It is one of the smaller skates, reaching a length of about 20 inches (50 cm) and a weight of little more than one pound (450 g). The winter skate has a similar range. It grows up to 3 1/2 feet (1.1 m) in length and can weigh 12 pounds (5.4 kg). The big skate, found off the Pacific coast of North America, can reach a length of about 8 feet (2.4 m). The upper side of each wing is marked with a dark spot surrounded by a white ring.
The electric rays, or torpedoes, have an electricity-producing organ on each wing near the head. One of the largest electric rays is the Atlantic torpedo, which can grow up to 6 feet (1.8m) long. This ray can discharge an electrical shock of about 200 volts. Electric rays use their electric organs to stun their prey and to defend themselves against predators.
The sawfish, found in tropical waters, is a ray with an elongated snout that bears teeth on either side and resembles a double-edged saw. The sawfish uses its “saw” to dig up the sea floor in search of food and to club its prey. It can inflict painful wounds and is of concern to fishermen because it damages fishnets. (Despite many cartoons on this subject, sawfish do not saw holes in wooden boats.) Some sawfish can grow to more than 35 feet (11 m) long and weigh more than 5,000 pounds (2,270 kg).
Among the rays with venomous barbs at the ends of their tails are the stingrays, Stingray venom affects the circulatory system of the victim, especially the heart. The venom c#n be fatal to humans. Most stingrays are shallow-water species. The blunt-nose stingray is an Atlantic species; the ribbontail ray (or blue-spotted stingray) is found in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
The manias, or devil rays, are quite active, often jumping out of the water. Many devil rays are extremely large and powerful with large wings. (One of the largest devil rays known measured 22 feet [6.7 m] between wing tips.) These fish are capable of overturning small boats. Mantas are found in warm-temperate to tropical seas.
Skates and rays make up the order Rajiformes, or Batoidei. Skates make up the family Rajidae The little skate is Raja erinacea; the winter skate, R. occllata; the big skate, R. binoculata. Electric rays make up the family Torpedinidae. The Atlantic torpedo is Torpedo nobiliana. Sawfish make up the family Pristidae. Stingrays make up the family Dasyatidae. The bluntnose stingray is Dasyatis sayi; the ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymtna. Mantas make up the family Mobulidae.
