Gliding through the water like majestic birds in the air, the rays on display in Ray Bay, are gentle, affectionate creatures. Related to sharks, rays are fish without bones. Instead their flexible bodies are made of cartilage.
Watch as divers enter the tank and hand feed these large but gentle animals. At the shallow end of the tank visitors may take the opportunity to touch and get up close and personal with one of these beautiful animals.
Spotted Eagle Ray
The Spotted Eagle Ray can be easily identified with its unique rounded snout (ideal for benthic feeding) and white polka-dots
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Cownose Ray
Native to the Atlantic Ocean, the Cownose Ray is a schooling ray that can be found in large groups of thousands at a time
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Southern Stingray
Southern Stingrays, like all stingrays, have anywhere from 1-6 venomous spines with serrated barbs located along the base of
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Whitespotted Bamboo Shark
Typically nocturnal, the Whitespotted Bamboo Shark prefers to feed at night and sleeps during the day. The Whitespotted Bamboo Shark lays eggs
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Bowmouth Guitarfish
The bowmouth Guitarfish is related to sharks and rays mostly related to stingrays. These cartilaginous fish can reach lengths of
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- Location: Indicated in orange on the map
- Habitat/Region featured: Deep ocean
- Size: Tank hold 2,000,000 gallons (1,250,000 liters) of water
- Opening date: May 29, 2004
Fish Blogs
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Aetobatus narinari
The Spotted Eagle Ray can be easily identified with its unique rounded snout (ideal for benthic feeding) and white polka-dots along its dark purple colored back. Their crescent shaped teeth are used to grind up bivalves, shrimp, crabs, whelks, squid, and small fish.
The Spotted Eagle Rays are schooling rays and in off mating seasons can be found in large groups worldwide in tropical and temperate waters. These rays are considered a Near Threatened species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Spotted Eagle Ray can reach a length of 16 feet and a wing span of 10 feet when fully grown.
Rhinoptera bonasus
Native to the Atlantic Ocean, the Cownose Ray is a schooling ray that can be found in large groups of thousands at a time. These rays are golden or tan in color and can reach lengths of 4 feet in wingspan and 36 pounds.
These bottom feeders use the flaps surrounding their mouths to dig through the sand to locate buried prey such as clams, mussels, and oysters. Swimmers often mistake their pectoral fins as shark fins when they break the surface of the water.
Dasyatis Americana
Southern Stingrays, like all stingrays, have anywhere from 1-6 venomous spines with serrated barbs located along the base of the tail. These barbs are only used as a means of passive defense.
Southern Stingrays often visit cleaning stations where bluehead wrasses and Spanish hogfish will eat the parasites and mucus from the stingray’s bodies. These rays can grow to over 6 feet in length and can be found in along the west coast of the Atlantic Ocean. They prefer shallow coastal waters and typically hide under the sand.
Chiloscyllium plagiosum
Typically nocturnal, the Whitespotted Bamboo Shark prefers to feed at night and sleeps during the day. The Whitespotted Bamboo Shark lays eggs that are typically 5 inches in length and hatch after 14-15 weeks.
This shark can grow up to 37 inches in length. The Whitespotted Bamboo Shark is native to the coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean, most commonly found around Indonesia. These sharks like to feed on small fish and invertebrates, which they crush using small teeth.
Rhina ancylostom
The bowmouth Guitarfish is related to sharks and rays mostly related to stingrays. These cartilaginous fish can reach lengths of 10 feet and are native to the Indo-Pacific region of the world.
They have a unique jaw which they use to crush different kinds of invertebrates. The Bowmouth Guitarfish have been known reach depths of 65 feet. This fish is often mistaken for a shark-ray because of its unique appearance.
