#flatsharkfriday

[epicdiving]

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Who's enjoying #flatsharkfriday? #flatshark #stingray #snorkeling #rays #southernstingray #amazingencounter #amazingplace #underwateremotions #underwaterpics #savesharks #finfree #fridayfun #fridayvibes #fridayfeeling #tgifridays #sharethelove #protectwhatyoulove #beachvibes (at West End, Freeport, Bahamas)

[epicdiving]

Happy #flatsharkfriday! #stingray #flatshark #grandbahama #bahamas #amazingview #adventure #travelphotography #finfree #savetheocean #savesharks #fridayfun #fridayvibes #tgifridays #tgif #underwater #uwphotography #underwatershoot #underwateremotions @ddcanabal (at The Bahamas)

[epicdiving]

Hanging out on #flatsharkfriday! #flatshark #stingray #divebuddy #tigerbeach #sharkdive #grandbahama #bahamas #scubadiving #savesharks #finfree #saveourseas #itstheirocean #amazinganimal #seesharks #fridayfun #fridayvibes #fridayfeeling #uwphotography #underwaterpics #underwaterphotography (at Tiger Beach)

[typusdata]

Species Profile No.11: the Giant Devil Ray (Mobula mobular) • The Giant Devil Ray is a large species of ray. Do they look familiar? At first glance, many people mistake them for manta rays, which they are closely related to. Mantas and giant devil rays are both part of the mobula family, which is also called the devil ray family. They are called devil rays due to their flap-like mouth fins, called cephalic fins, look like devil horns. They use their cephalic fins to funnel plankton, small fish, and fish eggs into their mouth - all mobula rays are filter feeders, just like whale sharks! Giant devil rays are also one of the only mobula rays that have a spine on their tail. • Giant devil rays are globally listed as Endangered, with severely fragmented populations. They only give birth to one pup at a time, but it is unknown how long their gestation is. They are suspected to become sexually mature at around 20 years of age, based on the maturation rate of similar species, such as manta rays. This slow reproduction rate makes them sensitive to overfishing. • Most people know about the shark fin trade, but few are aware of the demand for the gill plates of large ray species, which are used in traditional medicine. This trade impacts giant devil rays, as there are a few fisheries that target them directly. They are also killed as bycatch as the result of unsustainable fishing practices like driftnets. They are also susceptible to boat traffic and ingesting microplastics. • Giant devil rays are protected by several quotas and protection listings, including CITES Appendix II. The IUCN has recommended that they be given more protection of this nature. They also benefit from bans on unsustainable fishing practices in several areas. It is unknown how effective these measures have been. • To help obscure species like the giant devil ray, please support Shark Advocates International and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. •••••••••••••••••••••• #flatsharkfriday #flatsharks #rays #mobularay #mobula #devilray #giantdevilray #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #stopoverfishing #endangeredspecies #endangered #conservation #marinelife https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq1AbFflCMG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5rmkl7xmqtyv

[typusdata]

Yesterday was International Sawfish Day, so we’ve decided to make a post about this charismatic family of rays! • Sawfish are actually rays, rather than sharks. Their most distinctive feature is their elongated snout - called a rostrum - that is covered in teeth. Since the teeth are on their rostrum, they are called rostral teeth! This specialized saw is used as a hunting tool, as it is covered with thousands of electroreceptors that help the sawfish detect prey. Once they find their food, they can use their saw to pin down or hit food in order to make it easier to capture and eat. • The sawfish family is one of the most threatened groups of fish. There are five species, with two being Endangered and three being Critically Endangered. They are killed by humans for their meat, fins, oil, and rostral teeth. They also suffer from habitat loss and degradation, with the shallow waters they use as nurseries for young sawfish being affected by dams and pollution. • If you want to help save sawfish, please support the Sawfish Conservation Society, the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, and Shark Advocates International. ••••••••••••••••••••• #sawfish #sawfishconservation #sawfishresearch #flatshark #flatsharkfriday #sharkconservation #sharkeducation #ray #dontfearthefin #stopsharkfinning #stopoverfishing https://www.instagram.com/p/BpFN3iyl9HP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18lss6mwxqphp

[oceanforsharks]

There's been an elasmobranch sighting in our hotel! #magesticflapflap #conservationthroughart #FlatSharkFriday #flatshark #stingrays #elasmobranch (at Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos)

[oceanforsharks]

Happy #FlatSharkFriday!! Guitarfish, while they have bodies like sharks, are actually rays. Their gills are located under their bodies like sting rays, instead of behind their heads like sharks. #conservation #SaveSharks #saveourseas #saveouroceans #stingrays #guitarfish

[sarudanya]

first part of a new artistic project #stingray #illustration #inktober #flatsharkfriday