Travel Photography > West Indies >
Abaco Barrier Reef
In
the Pacific, they are known as leopard rays. In the Atlantic, they are
called spotted eagle rays. Like other rays, the spotted eagle ray features long
pectoral fins that look like giant wings. As a relative of the shark,
they also feature cartilage instead of bones - which provides greater
flexibility and lightness.
Most
rays are bottom dwellers. The spotted eagle ray, one of the largest in the family, is more pelagic, and often swims
in packs of two or more. The pacific leopard ray species is known to swim
in packs of 30 or more.
There
are few animals as graceful or beautiful as the spotted eagle rays. It is sleek,
fast and moves with a precision of an animal that has evolved for millenia.
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