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Featured Exhibit

THE RAY POOL IS HOME TO OUR RAYS, SMALL SPECIES OF SHARK INCLUDING DOGFISH AND LARGE FLATFISH SUCH AS TURBOT

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The Ray Pool provides a large shallow pool ideal for animals that like to settle on the seabed.

featured exhibit

FEATURED EXHIBIT

Atlantaquaria Web Ready 33
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Rays
Native to Ireland

The most commonly encountered ray around our coasts, the Thornback Ray got its name from a series of spines on its back!

thornback ray
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Thornback Ray / Roc Garbh
Raja clavata

The most common species in Galway Bay is the Thornback Ray. These animals have a skeleton made of cartilage, not bone, and have their young by laying eggs, known as mermaid’s purses. They get their name from the numerous thorns running along their back and tail.

Interesting Fact:

There is a difference between Skates and Rays, Skates lay egg cases and Rays give birth to live young. Technically our Thornback Ray is a Skate.

DOGFISH
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Lesser Spotted Dogfish /
Catsúileach Ballach
Scyliorhinus canicula

The Dogfish is Ireland’s most common and smallest coastal shark species, rarely reaching a meter in length. This animal has dark mottled coloured skin, which is rough to the touch. They are mainly nocturnal and scavenge for food using their incredible sense of smell, hence the name.

Interesting Fact:

Shark skin is covered with denticles. These help to reduce surface drag allowing it to move through the water more efficiently.

Turbot Atlantaquaria
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Turbot
Scophthalmus maximus

Turbot is a large species of flatfish in Irish coastal waters. Turbot has amazing camouflage, using its shape and colour to blend in with the seabed, these animals are ambush predators. Safely hidden in the sand, they ambush unsuspecting prey such as prawns and small fish.

did you know?
THE LARGEST FRESHWATER
FISH in the world IS THE GIANT FRESHWATER STINGRAY WHICH WEIGHS UP TO 300KG.
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