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This is Ray. He looks like a chirpy little fella, doesn't he?

He's only 12cm (5in) tall. And he lives in a fish tank.

Looking like Casper the Friendly Ghost's distant undersea cousin, he is one of a dozen baby thornback – or roker – ray fish born as part of a captive breeding programme, hatching from eggs known as 'mermaid's purses' at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Southsea, Hampshire.

The baby rays are being looked after in a special nursery tank but, when they are large enough, they will join adult thornbacks and several sharks in a large pool.

Thornbacks are the most common ray in British waters and can grow to 1.2m (4ft). They are named after the numerous spines which cover their upper bodies and make them risky to pick up.

In fact, you could say those spines are rayzer sharp. Bet that put a smile on your face.