Spines and rays

• Spines are generally stiff and sharp.
• Rays are generally soft, flexible, segmented, and may be branched.
• This segmentation of rays is the main difference that separates them from spines.
• Spines may be flexible in certain species, but they will never be segmented. Spines have a variety of uses.
• Spines have a variety of uses. In catfish, they are used as a form of defense; many catfish have the ability to lock their spines outwards.
• Triggerfish also use spines to lock themselves in crevices to prevent them being pulled out.