The acrobatic pelagic ray

A ray with horns

Giant devil rays have a pair of cephalic fins at the front of their head. When viewed from above, these fins look like “horns”. 

These devil rays have dark colored backs, usually blackish or brown, and bright white undersides. They also have a long, slender, whip-like tail, which has a spine and prickles. This distinct tail shape gives them their other common name, spinetail devil ray. 

In the open ocean

Giant devil rays are pelagic, living in open waters around continental shelves and oceanic islands. They occur mainly in subtropical waters, but can also be found in warmer and cooler seas. 

Giant devil rays can be found alone or in groups. They may gather in larger groups when conditions are favorable, particularly where food is abundant. 

On the other hand, these rays are also famous for being shy around humans. They are generally wary around humans and tend to avoid close encounters with divers. 

Acrobatic jumps

Giant devil rays are also known for leaping out of the water, sometimes making impressive acrobatic jumps. The exact reason for this behavior remains unclear, although some scientists believe that it may be related to hunting.

Giant devil rays mainly feed on planktonic crustaceans such as krill and small pelagic fish. They use their cephalic fins (“horns”) to funnel water and food towards their large, open mouths. The water then passes through their gill openings, while the food particles are filtered and trapped using their feather-like gill plates.