Devil rays delight crowds at Florida Panhandle beach

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Schools of devil rays have been delighting beachgoers at St. Andrews State Park in Florida's Panhandle.

The News Herald (http://bit.ly/2pJdMtp ) reports the dark-colored fish have become regular visitors to the park on Florida's Gulf Coast over the past week. The schools of rays gliding into the kiddie pool area every afternoon have ranged in size from seven to a few dozen.

Vanessa Wilson, a stingray trainer at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, says the devil rays are often seen jumping in the water. They can grow up to 4 feet and are named for the distinctive cephalic lobes that resemble horns. Wilson says the devil rays don't have barbs so they can't sting. But she says don't try petting them. They aren't used to human interaction.

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Information from: The (Panama City, Fla.) News Herald, http://www.newsherald.com