Bat Ray

The Bat Ray can be found in both tropical and temperate oceans from central Oregon in the USA to Mexico in the Gulf of California. The bat ray (Myliobatis californica) is found in muddy or sandy sloughs, estuaries and bays, kelp beds and rocky-bottomed shoreline. It is also found in the area around the Galápagos Islands. This species can typically be found in flat sections of water with a sand patch in between rocks or with a rocky bottom. They are commonly found in bays and sloughs within the shore area. They can be commonly found around offshore islands including San Clemente, Anacapa, and Santa Rosa. They have been observed during the summer and spring at San Clemente. During March and April they are common in the shallow waters of Santa Rosa. During the summer, they are common in the shallow water around Anacapa Island.

Bat rays feed on mollusks, crustaceans and small fish on the seabed, using their winglike pectoral fins to move sand and expose prey animals. They may also use their snout to dig trenches up to 20 cm deep to expose buried prey, such as clams. Bat rays create pits by excavating the substrate in order to feed upon invertebrates and small fish. These pits can be up to 20 cm deep and 4 m long. By digging up invertebrates, small fish are often attracted to take the chance to opportunistically prey upon these organisms. Bat rays are considered opportunistic generalists which means that they consume the food that is most available to them. These rays are most likely using a type of suction mechanism in order to obtain their smaller prey from the substrate.

This species is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Bat rays are not actively regulated according to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. While there are some overarching restrictions on the type of gear that can be used, these rays still have to deal with predators. Predators of the bat ray include California sea lion, great white sharks and broadnose sevengill sharks. To keep themselves safe from predators, bat rays camouflage in the sand.