Category: Fish
Also known as Haller’s round ray, this species inhabits the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are a small, common ray that is responsible for many injuries to bathers on the southern California coast. While very painful, their sting is not lethal. They forage for food during the day and are most active during the warm summer months. Their predators include black sea bass, elephant seals, and sharks.
The fish that could drown (and other amazing tales)
Fish are masters of aquatic living, though some manage to do pretty well on land, too! Of living species, the mudskipper is probably the best adapted to life out of water - in fact, a mudskipper will drown if it can’t periodically come to the surface! This unusual fish uses its powerful, almost leg-like fins to walk on land and can even use them to “skip” up to 2 feet in the air! Similar to many amphibians, the mudskipper is able to breathe through its skin and the linings of its mouth and throat. It also seals water in its gill chambers when it leaves the water for extended stays on the land, much like a scuba diver brings air with them!-
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