Spotted Eagle Ray

Hello from the ocean! My name is Ray, and I am a spotted eagle ray. I am so happy to meet you and tell you all about my life. The first thing you might notice about me is my beautiful back. It is very dark, but it’s covered all over with bright white spots, which makes me look just like a starry night sky. I don't have arms or legs like you do. Instead, I have wide, strong wings that are perfect for helping me 'fly' through the water. I glide and soar through the warm, sunny parts of the ocean where I live. My favorite places to swim are near beautiful coral reefs, where the water is clear and full of life. It’s the most wonderful home I could ever ask for, full of color and adventure every single day.

My favorite thing to do is go on a treasure hunt for my lunch! It’s not a treasure chest I’m looking for, but something much yummier. I have a special flat snout that looks a little bit like a duck's bill, and it is the perfect tool for digging. I use it to push around the sand on the seafloor to find delicious, crunchy treats that are hiding just beneath the surface. I especially love to find clams and crabs to munch on. My family has been swimming in these oceans for a very long time. People have been learning about us ever since a scientist first wrote down information about my species in the year 1790. That was a long, long time ago, and we are still flapping our wings in the big blue sea.

Moving through the water is my favorite feeling in the world. I don’t swim like other fish by wiggling my tail. Instead, I flap my big wings slowly and gracefully, which makes it look like I am gliding through the sky. Sometimes, when I feel extra happy and excited, I swim very fast towards the surface and leap right out of the water! For just a moment, I soar through the air before making a big splash back into the ocean. It’s so much fun! I don’t always swim by myself. I love swimming with my friends in a big group. When we all swim together, it is called a school. And when it is time for me to have babies, I don’t lay eggs. I give birth to live baby 'pups' who look just like tiny versions of me, with their own spots and wings ready for adventure.

I have a very important job here in the ocean. Spotted eagle rays feed on shellfish like clams and crabs, potentially influencing the seafloor ecosystem. My eating habits make sure there aren’t too many of any one kind of creature, which helps the whole coral reef community stay strong. It's my special job, and I love being a guardian of my big, blue ocean home. I am proud to help protect this beautiful world for all the other animals who live here with me.