Rajiformes

Rajiformes
English: Skates.
Clades: Chondrichthyes; Hemichordata; Deuterostomia; Animals.
Genera: 36; 270 species; 5 families.

Zoology
Although skate and stingray species share common features, there are also important differences between them. The most significant difference is the way the animals reproduce: skates are oviparous, and rays are viviparous. This means that skates lay eggs in rigid egg cases, which some people call a mermaid’s purse. Rays, on the other hand, give birth to live young. Of course, unless the creatures happen to be giving birth or laying eggs in front of the human viewer, this differentiation is not very helpful. Other, more reliably observable differences include body shape, body projections and tail characteristics. Rays tend to be larger and look like kites with only slight dorsal fins and long, slender tails punctuated with stinging spines. Skates are smaller and have obvious dorsal fins along their backs and fleshier tails without spines. If observers could look inside the animals’ mouths, they would also notice that skates have smaller teeth.

Families
Anacanthobatidae: Legskates.
Arhynchobatidae: Softnose skates.
Gurgesiellidae: Pygmy skates.
Rajidae: Skates.

Literature
https://pihma-fpre.org/urolophus-halleri-round-tailed-stingray/
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/urobatis-halleri/
https://sharksrays.org/
https://www.mantaray-world.com/manta-ray-predators/

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