The term 'BARB-TAILED FISH' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: RAY (3 letters) and STINGRAY (8 letters). Rays are a type of fish that belong to the same family as sharks, skates, and sawfish. They have flattened bodies and wide pectoral fins that give them a disc-like shape. Stingrays are a type of RAY that have a long, thin tail with barbs on it. These barbs are used for defense and can deliver a painful sting.