True Fishes 271 



Color: Upper surface of body red-brown, green-brown, or 

 black. Lower surface white. 



Distribution: Found regularly from Brazil to South Caro- 

 lina and as a straggler as far north as southern New 

 England. 



Size: Maximum size reported was a specimen 20 feet wide 

 and weighing 3,502 pounds. 



General Information: The Giant Devil Ray is probably 

 most numerous in the Gulf of Mexico and off southeastern 

 Florida. It is most often seen in the shoal water near shore, 

 but specimens are also frequently found swimming at the 

 surface of the water far offshore over deep water. This 

 ray frequently occurs in pairs or schools. At times it may 

 leap clear of the water. This ray probably feeds on small 

 shrimp-like animals and small fish. While an inoffensive 

 animal if left alone, the Giant Devil Ray can capsize or 

 smash a small boat if angered. The fact that the two 

 projecting head fins automatically close together on any- 

 thing that may touch the head region between these fins 

 may explain the stories of divers being smothered by 

 Giant Devil Rays which grasp the air hose and cut off 

 the air supply. 



Economic Importance: Of no commercial importance. 

 Harpooning of this ray by sportsmen, a frequent occur- 

 rence, usually results in a frenzied flight of the animal tow- 

 ing the boat behind it, often for several hours. 



TRUE FISHES 



Characters: The true fishes are a diverse group of aquatic 

 vertebrates which, like the sharks, sawfish, skates, and 

 rays, have well-developed jaws and respire by means of 

 gills. They differ from the sharks and their relatives in the 

 following characters: 



1. The skeleton is formed of bone in most species. Ex- 

 ceptions are the primitive fishes like the sturgeons whose 



