14 DAY TRIAL // In a paper published in the journal Nature Communications this past July 1, specialists with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution explain that, contrary to popular assumption, Chilean devil rays can dive to impressive depths.
More precisely, the researchers say that, as shown by recent investigations into the behavior of these ocean dwellers, Chilean devil rays can reach depths of 1.24 miles (about 2 kilometers) while swimming around in the ocean.
The animals travel to such depths at a speed of about 13.4 miles per hour (21.56 kilometers per hour), and are well equipped to handle the less than 4-degree Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) temperatures they are exposed to when they reach their destination.
Despite the fact that they are well capable to journey to impressive depths, it looks like Chilean devil rays do not make such trips all that often. Thus, they only travel to 1.24 miles below the surface once every 24 hours.
What's more, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution specialists who took the time to study their behavior say that, whenever they do make such journeys, Chilean devil rays return to the surface after roughly 60 to 90 minutes.
However, evidence obtained with the help of tracking devices indicates that they travel to depths of 0.62 miles (roughly 1 kilometer) way more often, and sometimes remain there for up to 11 hours in a row, the researchers further explain.
Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the specialists argue that were quite surprised to find that these ocean dwellers are among the world's deepest divers. This is because they are usually seen swimming near the ocean surface.
“So little is known about these rays. We thought they probably traveled long distances horizontally, but we had no idea that they were diving so deep. That was truly a surprise,” biologist and study author Simon Thorrold explains in a statement.
This is yet to be confirmed, but researchers have reasons to believe that Chilean devil rays travel to the deep ocean looking to snack on fish swimming at these depths. If this in indeed the case, efforts to protect these animals must also focus on safeguarding deep ocean habitats.
“There’s an enormous amount of biomass in the deep ocean that we’re only starting to understand the significance of. This paper suggests that devil rays are aware of and regularly exploit this resource, which demonstrates an unexpected new link between the surface and deep ocean,” says specialist Camrin Braun.