CORTEZ ELECTRIC RAY

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Shark picture - green sawfish

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If you're looking for a broader range of marine life pictures the following links represent a new area that contains pictures on other marine organisms and on marine habitats. This expansion of Elasmodiver is in its first stages but will eventually include pages on everything from sea stars to nudibranches. Creating this portal will take time and for now it consists of a token offering of fish pictures. Please return regularly to enjoy the progress.

FISH PICTURES

MARINE IMAGES

Habitat: Shallow sandy areas sometimes near reefs.

Abundance and distribution: Sea of Cortez where it is common, to

Panama

Behavior: Nocturnal. Rests on sand during the day moving into shallow bays at night to feed. Main diet consists of polychaete worms.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous. Gravid females produce uterine milk that supplements the yolk sac of the developing embryo.

Observations: I observed this ray hopping forwards on its flexible ribbed pelvic fins.

Photographs: Mulege, Baja California, Mexico. Cabo Pulmo, Baja, Mexico.

Similar species: The lesser electric ray whilst not sharing a sympatric range is considered to be possibly the same species.

Reaction to divers: May be approached quite easily. If molested can shock but will more likely retreat.

Diving logistics: The Cortez electric ray is common in shallow water in sandy bays from at least central Baja southwards. It may be encountered whilst diving but is more likely to be spotted whilst snorkeling over sand or rubble bottoms. The photographed specimen was encountered in about 10 ft of water at dusk whilst snorkeling from the beach at Mulege. Cortez stingrays were also present.

Other diving locations submitted by readers:

References and further reading:

Reef Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.

Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.