Rays on parade

The feeding frenzy is on! Each spring and fall, the waters off Mexico's Baja California peninsula become the perfect place to spot Munk's devil rays in massive schools like this one. Unlike stingrays (and perhaps the devil), devil rays lack fearsome pointy tails. In fact, these giants — whose wingspans can reach about 9 feet — are pretty gentle all around, feeding mainly on plankton. And for them, mealtime is party time. During huge devil ray gatherings like this, rays are seen continually bursting out of the water and landing with loud bellyflops.
© Mark Carwardine/Minden Pictures