Page 11 - Shark

Eye
Pectoral fin Spiracle—one-way
valve to draw water in,
which is then pumped
out through gill slits
underneath

Pelvic fin

Undulate ray

Sting

STingray
There are more than
160 different species of stingrays and
they live all around the world, in both warm
Swimming around and cool waters. Most are armed with one, or
Most rays swim by using sometimes several, venomous spines on their tails.
their pectoral fins. But
electric rays, sawfish, and
some species of guitarfish
swim in the same way as sharks do, by sculling
with their tails. This spotted ray’s tail is too spindly to
provide much propulsion, so undulations, or waves, pass
down the length of the ray’s pectoral fins from front to
back. As they swim along they appear to fly through the
water. The up-and-down motion of the pectoral fins, or
wings, is shown much better in species with enormous
wings, like the manta ray. These giant rays are even able to Typical swimming
leap clear out of the water, sometimes up to 5 ft (1.5 m). sequence of rays