Category: Fish
Also known as Haller’s round ray, this species inhabits the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are a small, common ray that is responsible for many injuries to bathers on the southern California coast. While very painful, their sting is not lethal. They forage for food during the day and are most active during the warm summer months. Their predators include black sea bass, elephant seals, and sharks.
Undersea Conversations…
While it isn’t obvious, fish have ears, and are able to communicate to one another through sounds. They don’t have vocal chords, but instead vibrate their swim bladders, producing popping, grunting, moaning, barking, or chirping noises. While some species of fish, like the goldfish, are silent listeners, there are over 1000 species that are known to vocalize, and some, like the gurnard who are veritable chatterboxes. While we can’t have a conversation with them - at least not yet - it is theorized that they do it to attract mates, frighten away predators or competitors, to synchronize mating, call for help and warn others, or to orient themselves.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
