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Bat rays are found from the Gulf of California to Oregon, from surface waters to depths of 150 feet. Bat rays feed chiefly upon mollusks and crustaceans. In bays and sloughs they feed heavily upon clams, oysters, shrimp and crabs. On the open coast they eat abalones and various other snails. They dig clams by suction created by flapping their wings. The shell of the ingested clam is crushed by their millstone like jaw teeth. Females apparently weigh at least 50 pounds and males 10 pounds before they are mature. It grows up to 4-5 feet in length and weigh up to 180 lbs. The wing spans up to 8 feet. Males are typically smaller than females. Bat rays have a raised head and a dorsal fin at the base of a long whip-like tail with a stinger just behind it. Their coloring is blackish or blackish brown above and white below. Beware of the stinger. Largest Recorded: a 240pound bat ray was taken from Newport Bay in 1957. Bat Rays are not fished commercially, however they are sometimes caught as by-catch. Food Value: Excellent.
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