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.