Ray with Shark Bite

Grand Baie, on the northern coast of Mauritius, provides access to coral reefs, sandy channels, rocky formations, and offshore dive sites supporting rays, reef fishes, turtles, and other Indian Ocean marine life. Mauritius is volcanic in origin and is almost entirely surrounded by fringing coral reefs that form extensive lagoons and varied coastal habitats. This encounter documents a ray carrying a substantial injury consistent with a large bite; however, the attacking animal cannot be confirmed from the wound alone. Such injuries offer visible evidence of the ecological interactions experienced by free-ranging marine animals, including predation, competition, and scavenging.

Fun Fact: A Mauritian government biodiversity report published in 2010 recorded approximately 1,700 marine species around Mauritius, including 786 species of fish. The figures reflect species documented at the time rather than a complete current inventory.