The Rays.....
1.) The manta was named after the Spanish word ; "manta," which means blanket.
2.) A manta ray coaught off the Bahamas had an incredible wingspan of 22 feet.
3.) Mantas have about 300 rows of tiny, peg-like teeth, each about the size of the head of a pin.
4.) Spotted Eagle Rays have one of the largest brain to body weight of any fish.
5.) Spotted Eagle Rays are the only member of their family to have multiple spines on the tail.
6.) Stingrays commonly are found lying half-buried in the sand or mud of coastal temperate areas.
7.) Stingrays come in two different general "types" - the "benthic" (or bottom) stingrays and the "pelagic" (or swimming) stingrays.
8.) Some cownose ray schools can be quite large; one witnessed near the mouth of the Bay was estimated to contain nearly five million rays!
9.) Captain John Smith learned the hard way about the cownose ray's spine. During his 1608 voyage he was stung so severely that his crew thought he was going to die. The site on the Rappahannock River where he was stung is still known today as "Stingray Point."
10.) Flaps its “wings” like a bird to swim through the water. As it swims, the tips of the fins break the surface and can look like shark fins. Many "shark sightings" in the Bay are actually cownose rays.
The Sharks.....
1.) Even though there are 350 types of sharks that have been identified, scientist believe there are more than that out there in the unsearched oceans.
2.) Sharks have lateral line organs. These are a row of tiny holes on the side of their body that can detect the tiniest movement around them, allowing them to catch prey.
3.) Since every living creature gives off small electric impulses, sharks can actually detect them through little holes in their faces. These holes are called ampullae of Lorenzini.
4.) The monster shark (Carcharodon Megalodon) had jaws big enough to swallow a small car.
5.) The moses sole is a small fish that a shark will not eat. If a shark does bite it, the fish releases a chemical that makes the shark ill. The shark then releases the fish. Scientist are trying to recreate the chemical so it can be used to keep sharks away from people.
6.) Before sandpaper was invented people used shark skin to smooth and polish wood.
7.) The bull shark is the only shark that can live in both fresh and salt water. A bull shark may have been responsible for a shark attack that happened in a creek in New Jersey back in 1916.
8.) Sharks never get cancer! Their cartilage is used in being studied with the hope of developing anti-cancer drugs.
9.) Sharks' bodies are heavier than the sea, so if they stop moving they sink. If they want to stay afloat, they must keep moving!
10.) A shark's hunger can be satisfied with one good meal. The meal can last a long time because a shark uses little energy to swim. Some sharks hold food in their stomachs without it being digested. If they eat a big meal, it can last three or more months!
1 comment:
Cool facts! JediBoy will love reading these. He's been fascinated by rays since he got to pet one at the Cleveland Zoo in May. :)
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