Bat rays employ a chemical cue to warn others of danger

Bat rays employ a chemical cue to warn others of danger

Frightened bat rays produce a chemical cue to warn other rays of danger, a well-known anti-predator strategy for bony fish that has not been documented in cartilaginous fish until now. Oregon State University researchers found the behavior of bat rays changed when they received water flow from a tank where another bat ray was frightened by a mock predator, suggesting that a chemical disturbance cue was passed from one tank to the other.

Rays use chemical signals to communicate danger

New Delhi: Researchers from Oregon State University have determined that bat rays produce chemical warning cues when threatened, marking the first time scientists have observed this anti-predator strategy in cartilaginous fish. The research reveals that the animals possess more complex communication pathways than previously known, and the strategy may extend to other rays, skates and sharks as well. The researchers used a clever setup to tease o…