Lines & Matter · Field guide
Sharks and Rays
Sharks and rays have skeletons of cartilage rather than bone. Their relatives include fast hunters, bottom dwellers, and plankton feeders. Learning about their diets reveals a far more varied group than the familiar image of a large predator.
A question to exploreHow does feeding on plankton call for a different body than catching fish?
Read more: Smithsonian Ocean ↗
For learning and art, not identification or safety advice. Guide use & limitations
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About poison, venom & responsible observation
Poisonous organisms can cause harm when toxins are swallowed or absorbed. Venomous organisms deliver toxins through a bite, sting, or other wound. A species can be both. An absent annotation never means safe to handle or eat.
Read the Natural History Museum explanation ↗