The major branches of physics are as follows:

• Astrophysics
  Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties (luminosity, density, temperature and chemical composition) of astronomical objects such as stars, galaxies, and the interstellar medium, as well as their interactions.
• Atomic and molecular physics
  The study of the structure and characteristics of atoms and molecules.
• Biophysics
  The science of the application of the laws of physics to life processes.
• Condensed-matter (solid-state) physics
  The study of the physical properties of solids, such as electrical, dielectric, elastic, and thermal properties, and their understanding in terms of fundamental physical laws.
• Cosmology
  The study of the universe as a whole, of the contents, structure, and evolution of the universe from the beginning of time to the future.
• Geophysics
  the study of the physical characteristics and properties of the earth; including geodesy, seismology, meteorology, oceanography, atmospheric electricity, terrestrial magnetism, and tidal phenomena.
• Mechanics
  the branch of physics concerned with the motion of bodies in a frame of reference.
• Statistical Mechanics
  The discipline that attempts to relate the properties of macroscopic systems to their atomic and molecular constituents.
• Theoretical physics
  Theoretical physics attempts to understand the world by making a model of reality, used for rationalizing, explaining, and predicting physical phenomena through a “physical theory”.
• Thermodynamics
  The study of the effects of changes in temperature, pressure, and volume on physical systems at the macroscopic scale by analyzing the collective motion of their particles using statistics.

Science can be divided into the physical sciences, the earth sciences, and the life sciences. These are called pure sciences, which contrast to the applied, or engineering, sciences, i.e., technology, which is concerned with the practical application of the results of scientific activity.

Mathematics, is not a science, but is closely linked to the sciences because of their extensive use of it. There are also disciplines for the study of the history and philosophy of science, and areas concerning the society and the interactions of people, social science.
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Devil Rays evolved from bottom feeders a long time ago, but later adapted to become filter feeders in the open ocean.

This has allowed them to grow in size larger than any other species of rays.

Devil Rays have recently been seen breaching ( leaping out of the water ). The reason for this is unknown but is thought that it is to remove loose dead skin and parasites when impacting back into the water.
They have a boneless skeleton made from a tough elastic substance.

HABITAT

• The Devil Ray lives throughout the tropical seas all over the world, typically around coral reefs.
• They are usually found in small groups of 2, or in famillies.
• They like to be near the surface where it is warm.

FOOD

• The Devil Ray generally eats plankton, fish, larvae and small organisms that are filtered out from the water by their gill rakers, this is a type of filter feeding that is called ram – jetfeeding.

LIFE – CYCLE

• The Devil Ray mates yearly, in the spring or summer.
• The female ray is fertilized by the male while swimming.
• The rays develop within eggs that remain within the mothers body up until they hatch,or are about to hatch. This is called ovoviviparity.
• They stay within the mother fo 9 – 12 months.
• The baby rays are called pups and emerge from the egg with their fins wrapped around their body and their spine covered in a sheath which comes off after birth.
• Litter sizes range from 2 – 10 but they usually only have 1 or 2.
• Devil Rays live up to 23 years.

THE DEVIL RAY IS ENDANGERED

• Devil rays are highly vulnerable to fisheries because of their large size and slow speed in the water.
• Pollution.
• Usually only give birth to 1 – 2 pups.
• Coastal environments being developed which are critical habitats for breeding.