They are kind of rays that abounds in national waters and are in danger of extinction.
The "family of rays are characterized by the head elevated above the disk off with the eyes and spiracles located laterally. Mouth with chewing teeth placed in several rows. Tail more or less long, equipped with one or more venomous spines at the base. Are ovoviviparous, the embryos are fed in part by a milky secretion produced by the female "according to the environmental advocacy organization and culture of the Algarve.
The mouse (Dasyatis parsnip Linnaeus) is the kind that interests us, prefer to live in bays, lagoons and estuaries, with depths up to 200 meters. It feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and fish. "It has a flattened body and depressed and smooth, slippery skin, devoid of scales. It has thick tail on the source that becomes progressively thin, has one or more venomous spines of serrated edges, which can cause painful wounds. The top surface is colored yellow-brown, with whitish or gray-blue. The bottom is clear. The body length can reach 1.50 "according to the site inmadeira.com
Contrary to what one might think rarely occur s any "confrontations" with these cartilaginous fish. The most that can happen is accidentally step on them, because normally they bury themselves in sand. Or being bitten by been badly handled by the fishermen who catch then on the hook, since the rays are widely consumed in our country. What I want to highlight however, is the beauty of these fish in the surface of the water. They open the "wings" as if they were birds, hovering in the blue waters as their skin shines in the sun. It seems almost surreal. It's an almost indescribable beauty. It's a shame to see them on the plate!
http://www.almargem.org/images/articles/117/Condrictios.pdf
http://mar.inmadeira.com/index.php?option=com_xdms&task=viewMar&id=358&lang=pt&Itemid=18&shuffle=yes
http://www.skaphandrus.com/underwater_photography/photo/1499
