The richness of our waters also lies in the beauty of the species that inhabit them, species that, in many cases, must be protected to prevent their extinction. This is the situation in which Cory's shearwaters find themselves in, which also goes for Spiny butterfly rays, which have a distinguished presence in the Canary Islands. It is one of the best known ray species in the world.
Characteristics of the Spiny butterfly ray
This marine species has a diamond-shaped body that can reach a length of more than 2 meters, a small tail and its colour is dark brown with spots on the upper part and pinkish on the lower part.
The Spiny butterfly ray lacks dorsal fins and has two serrated spines at the base. It feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and molluscs. As a curiosity, the youngest ones do not usually have spots, they acquire them with age. This species of ray is very calm and is characterised by its slow swimming in calm waters.
The Canary Islands archipelago is one of the refuges where Spiny butterfly rays can reproduce and live, and develop their life cycle correctly. During the summer months they come to the shore to give birth to their young ones, which makes them a common sight for bathers with whom they have to coexist.
The main risks faced by the Spiny butterfly ray in the Canary Islands are habitat degradation due to garbage and water pollution, accidental fishing, irresponsible citizenship and, to a lesser extent, illegal fishing. One of the keys to their preservation is to avoid ocean pollution, one of the problems that sometimes overflows the sandy beaches, hence the importance of raising awareness to protect them.
Taking care of them is taking care of everyone and at Hotel Jardín Tecina we are strongly committed to this.