CORTEZ ELECTRIC RAY

Not just a huge collection of Shark Pictures: Elasmodiver.com contains images of sharks, skates, rays, and a few chimaera's from around the world. Elasmodiver began as a simple web based shark field guide to help divers find the best places to encounter the different species of sharks and rays that live in shallow water but it has slowly evolved into a much larger project containing information on all aspects of shark diving and shark photography.

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Shark picture - green sawfish

Habitat: Shallow sandy areas sometimes near reefs.

Abundance and distribution: Sea of Cortez where it is common, to

Panama

Behavior: Nocturnal. Rests on sand during the day moving into shallow bays at night to feed. Main diet consists of polychaete worms.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous. Gravid females produce uterine milk that supplements the yolk sac of the developing embryo.

Observations: I observed this ray hopping forwards on its flexible ribbed pelvic fins.

Photographs: Mulege, Baja California, Mexico. Cabo Pulmo, Baja, Mexico.

Similar species: The lesser electric ray whilst not sharing a sympatric range is considered to be possibly the same species.

Reaction to divers: May be approached quite easily. If molested can shock but will more likely retreat.

Diving logistics: The Cortez electric ray is common in shallow water in sandy bays from at least central Baja southwards. It may be encountered whilst diving but is more likely to be spotted whilst snorkeling over sand or rubble bottoms. The photographed specimen was encountered in about 10 ft of water at dusk whilst snorkeling from the beach at Mulege. Cortez stingrays were also present.

Other diving locations submitted by readers:

References and further reading:

Reef Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.

Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.