Species Type:
Sharks & Rays
Common Name(s):
Lesser devil ray
Size:
The lesser devil ray can grow to wingspans of up to 4 feet across.
Diet:
The lesser devil ray's diet consists of pelagic plankton- small organisms found floating in the water column. They use their cephalic fins to funnel food into their mouth when swimming through turtle grass.
Range & Habitat:
The lesser devil ray is a pelagic species that can be found swimming near the surface of the water over the continental shelf, and are sometimes seen closer to shore in bays. They are found in the western Atlantic from North Carolina to Argentina, as well as the Gulf of Mexico.
Details:
Lesser devil rays get their name from their cephalic fins- two flexible fins near the front of their heads. When they are not actively being used for feeding, the cephalic fins are tightly curled giving them a “horned” appearance