Our October Fish of the Month is the Bat Ray, Myliobatis californica!
Survey Regions: Bat Rays are found throughout the waters of California, as well as north to Oregon and south to the Baja peninsula in Mexico. They have been reported in REEF's PAC (Pacific Coast of US and Canada) survey region. Click here to see a distribution for this species in the REEF database.
Size: Female Bat Rays can grow to about 6 ft. across, while males are smaller, growing to about 3 ft.
Identifying Features: Bat Rays are gray to brown with a white belly. They have a large, blunt head, and long, triangular pectoral fins. They also have a whip-like tail.
Fun Facts: Bat Rays live in a variety of habitats, including sand and mud flats and kelp beds. They can be seen alone or in schools. During the day, they tend to rest on the bottom and become more active at night. The base of their tail has a barb that can inject venom.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
Photo by Deenie Clinton.