AMAZING RAYS
Words by Lauren Eyles
DID YOU KNOW?
You can report egg case finds to the Shark Trust, who record where they are found for better protection
© Getty
Rays are fascinating – come and find out more about the lives of these shark-like creatures
If you’ve ever found a shark or skate egg case washed up on the beach after it’s hatched out, you’ll know how different they can be. You’ll also know how they can be extremely deceiving, often being mistaken for seaweed or even plastic. These egg cases, sometimes called a ‘mermaid’s purse’, can tell us a huge amount about varied species that can be found in oceans all around the world. But you won’t come across egg cases from their cousin and relative, the ray. That’s because they are viviparous, which means that they give birth to live young.
What distinguishes a ray from a shark? The biggest and most obvious difference is their body shape. You will notice that rays are very flat and very well adapted to life on the seafloor, where some spend a lot of their time. They bury themselves in the sand as the perfect camouflage to hide away from being eaten, and to grab a meal of worms, snails and shrimps. Rays have a disc-shaped body from having over-sized pectoral fins, which are actually part of their head. They also have thin, whip-like tails that might be used for movement, but protection is their main purpose – particularly for stingrays.