Weird Ray Facts for a 6-year-old

Rays are cool ocean animals. Here are some weird and surprising things about them, one simple idea at a time.

1. They are flat like a pancake or a kite.

   Rays have big flat bodies and wings (they are actually big fins). They glide through the water like a kite flying in the sky.

2. Rays are cousins of sharks.

   They don’t have heavy bones. Their bodies are made of cartilage, the same squishy stuff in your ears and nose.

3. They can breathe while hiding in the sand.

   Rays sometimes bury themselves in sand. They have little holes behind their eyes called spiracles that let them pull in water to breathe without swallowing sand.

4. Some rays have a sting (a sharp tail) for protection.

   Stingrays have a barbed tail with venom. They use it to scare away animals that try to hurt them. That is why people are careful and don’t step on wild stingrays.

5. Some rays make electricity!

   Electric rays can give a shock like a tiny battery. They use it to catch food or to defend themselves.

6. Rays can feel tiny electric signals from animals.

   They have special sensors on their bodies to find food hiding under the sand — even when they can’t see it.

7. Manta rays are giant but eat very tiny food.

   Manta rays can be as wide as a small car. But they eat tiny plankton by swimming with their big mouths open like a big vacuum cleaner.

8. Some rays give live babies, and some lay eggs.

   Stingrays usually have live baby rays that swim right away. Skates (a kind of ray) lay eggs called "mermaid’s purses" that you might find on the beach.

9. Rays can crush shells with strong teeth.

   Some rays eat clams and snails. Their teeth are flat and strong so they can crack shells open.

10. Baby rays are born ready to swim.

    When baby rays are born, they look like tiny versions of adult rays and can swim right away.

Try this! Pretend to be a ray: spread your arms wide like wings and glide around the room, or draw a big kite-shaped ray. If you go to the beach with an adult, see if you can find a mermaid’s purse (but don’t open it — it might still have a baby inside).

Remember: Rays are amazing but wild. Don’t poke or touch them in the ocean unless a trained person says it’s safe.