Rays of Galapagos

Rays of the Galapagos

Gliding silently through the turquoise waters of the Galapagos, rays are among the archipelago’s most graceful marine inhabitants.

Rays belong to a group of cartilaginous fish known as Chondrichthyes (in Greek, khondros means cartilage, and ikhthus means fish), meaning their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone.

Subclasses of Chondrichthyans include Holocephali (chimaeras or ghost sharks) and Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays). This makes the ray a close relative of the shark, and a flattened elasmobranch fish that has adapted to live on the seafloor (with the exception of the manta ray that swims in open water).

Species of Rays in the Galapagos

Giant Manta Ray (Manta hamiltoni)

The largest of all rays, the Giant Manta can reach up to seven metres in width. Black above and white below, it glides effortlessly through open water, feeding on plankton, small fish, and crustaceans. Mantas are known for their spectacular aerial leaps, sometimes clearing the surface in a display that may serve to remove parasites or communicate with others.

Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari)

Easily identified by its dark upper side scattered with bright white spots, this striking ray grows to about 2.5 metres across. It feeds on barnacles, molluscs, and crustaceans buried in the sand, using its beak-like snout to dig. Poisonous spines at the base of the tail serve as defence. Spotted Eagle Rays are often seen gliding in small groups across sandy bays and lagoons.

Spinetail Mobula (Mobula japanica)

Smaller than the manta, reaching up to five metres, this ray is grey above with a dark band across the head and a white underside. Its cone-shaped mouth flaps distinguish it from its larger relative. Though widespread, it is less common and occasionally seen schooling in shallower water.

Golden Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera steindachneri)

The Golden Cownose Ray reaches about one metre in width. Its mustard-coloured back provides perfect camouflage over sandy seabeds, while the white underside helps it blend into the light when viewed from below. It feeds mainly on molluscs and crustaceans and can be found schooling in sheltered mangrove lagoons.

Marbled Ray (Taeniurops meyeni)

Almost circular in shape and up to two metres wide, this ray has a distinctive marbled pattern of black and grey above and a white underside. It prefers sandy bottoms, where it feeds on small fish, molluscs, and crustaceans. Its thick tail tapers to a single barb, used for protection.

Diamond Stingray (Dasyatis brevis)

Named for its diamond-shaped body, this olive-brown to grey ray reaches up to two metres. Its short, round tail becomes vertically flattened after the barb. Like other bottom-dwellers, it feeds on molluscs and crustaceans and is often seen resting motionless on the seabed.

Movement and Behaviour

Unlike sharks, which move side to side, rays propel themselves in a smooth, undulating rhythm that resembles a bird in flight. This movement, combined with their flattened, disc-like bodies, allows them to both soar through open water and settle invisibly on the sea floor.

Feeding and Reproduction

Different ray species have evolved distinct feeding strategies. Manta rays are gentle filter feeders, swimming near the surface with mouths wide open to collect plankton and tiny crustaceans.

Some, like stingrays, lie half-buried beneath the sand, waiting patiently for small fish, molluscs, or crustaceans to pass within reach.

Rays reproduce through a process known as ovoviviparity. Rather than laying eggs externally, the eggs hatch inside the female’s body, and the young are born fully formed and independent.

Occasionally, guests are treated to one of the ocean’s most unexpected spectacles: a Giant manta ray leaping clear out of the water before crashing back down with a resounding splash. The reasons for this behaviour remain a mystery. It may help dislodge parasites, act as a defensive display, or simply be a form of play.

Conservation and Protection

While rays in the Galapagos benefit from protection within the Marine Reserve, populations elsewhere face serious threats from overfishing, longline nets, and plastic pollution. Commercial fishing operations outside the reserve often target or inadvertently catch rays, while microplastics in the ocean may interfere with their food sources.

Ongoing research and conservation programmes are working to safeguard these species by studying their movements, reducing pollution, and promoting international protections such as those provided under CITES Appendix II.

Where to See Them

Rays are widespread throughout the Galapagos Marine Reserve. On our Safaris you will have the opportunity of seeing them from both above and below the water. We sometimes see eagle rays in Bahia Borrero and manta rays when snorkeling by Daphne Island.

The best time to spot rays is between December and May, when warmer seas and clear visibility create ideal viewing conditions.