Kōrero: Sharks and rays

Ki mua

Spinetail devil ray

Whai muri

Spinetail devil rays have finely pointed fins. Their head protrudes from the front, so that they resemble sinister figures in a cape. They are found in the open ocean, in tropical and subtropical zones around the world.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection

by Rob Harcourt

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Gerard Hutching, Sharks and rays – Rays and skates, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/5352/spinetail-devil-ray (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Gerard Hutching, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009.

Comments

[email protected]
03 November 2010

Thanks Clinton, you are right. We plan to replace this image soon with one of the giant manta (Manta birostris)as you suggested.

Clinton Duffy
28 October 2010

This is a photograph of the reef manta (Manta alfredi) not the spinetail devil ray (Mobula japanica).