Foto: Mikaella Botelho

Did you think NaturPorto would not talk about other animals besides Sea Life Porto turtles? You're mistaken! Today we present you rays, curious creatures that have a special place in our hearts and in the fixed exhibition Bay of Rays, one of the most disputed of the aquarium.

Stingrays, rays or bathoid fish are cartilaginous marine fish. But what does that mean? Simply that their body structure is not made up of bones as we are, humans.

They are sedentary animals, which, most of the time, live buried in sand or mud, at the bottom of the seas. They belong to the same family as the sharks - Elasmobranchii -, but their flattened form has allowed the development of the gill slits under the head.

Photo: José Loureiro Photography Blog

The typical bathoid fish of its species can be divided in three: the true rays (with small dorsal fins at the end of the tail), the uges (venomous thorn in the tail used for its protection) and the electrical ones. In the exhibition, you can find the first group of animals.

There are only a few species that are not benthic, which means that they live in the seabed. Among them is the birostris blanket, capable of reaching eight meters wide and weighing more than three tons. Despite this, it feeds itself only on microorganisms and small fish.

Photo: Mikaella Botelho

In addition to all you can discover in the exhibition, there are a couple of quizzes about the species that you can answer and have fun. Do you think that's all? No way! The best part is yet to come. At scheduled times, it is possible to touch the animals in the large tanks that are available to the public.

Photo: Mikaella Botelho

Photo: Mikaella Botelho

Wanna know more about rays? Visit Sea Life Porto and enjoy.