Bat Ray (Myliobatis californica)

Graceful yet grounded, the bat ray glides through colder waters with quiet confidence — stirring sand beneath kelp forests, leaving soft trails of light behind. There’s a calm beauty in its patience, a rhythm that belongs entirely to the Pacific.

Scientific Snapshot

A bat ray gliding above a sandy seafloor near kelp — its wingtips stirring gentle clouds of sand in the filtered light.

Scientific Name: Myliobatis californica

Common Names: Bat ray, California bat ray

Average Size: Up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) across; can weigh over 90 kg (200 lbs)

Habitat: Coastal bays, kelp forests, sandy flats, and estuaries

Diet: Crustaceans, mollusks, and benthic invertebrates

Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Range: Eastern Pacific — from Oregon to the Gulf of California; common in Southern California and Baja

From the Field

The story…

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