SPOTTED EAGLE RAY

View all available spotted eagle ray images in the Shark Pictures Database

Common Names: Spotted Eagle Ray, Indo-Pacific Spotted Eagle Ray, Ocellated Eagle Ray, Sharpwing Eagle Ray, Spotted Duckbill Ray.

Scientific Name: Aetobatus ocellatus. Previously Aetobatus narinari

Synonyms:

Aetobatus guttatus (Shaw, 1804)
Aetobatus punctatus (Miklukho-Maclay & Macleay, 1886 )
Aetomylaeus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823)
Goniobatis meleagris Agassiz, 1858
Myliobatis eeltenkee Rüppell, 1837
Myliobatis macroptera McClelland, 1841
Myliobatis punctatus Miklukho-Maclay & Macleay, 1886
Myliobatus ocellatus Kuhl, 1823
Pteromylaeus punctatus (Miklukho-Maclay & Macleay, 1886)
Raja guttata Shaw, 1804
Raja mula Forsskål, 1775
Raja edentula Forster, 1844
Stoasodon ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823)

Family: Aetobatidae. Containing the single genus Aetobatus. Recently elevated to full family status. Previously considered part of the family myliobatidae.

Identification: A large eagle ray with a greenish, greyish or redish brown dorsum covered in white or bluish white spots. Occasionally, the white spots are slightly larger with black centers - ocelli. Spots may be absent completely or confined to rear of disc. Disc rhomboidal, wing-like. Anterior disc margins convex. Posterior margins concave. Curvature of fins increases towards free tips. Prominent square head extends forward of pectoral fins level with the eye. Snout narrow and pointed. Caudal fins extend posteriorly beyond pectoral margin. Very long, whip like tail often broken off part way. Tail length 2.1-2.5 disc width when in tact. 1 or 2 tail spines, rarely up to 5. Mouth located ventrally. Teeth plate-like. Nasal curtain (upper lip) large, fringed and deeply notched centrally.

Size: Wing span to 300cm. Nose to tail (when complete) max 880cm.

Habitat: Cruises reef faces, sand flats and bays where it feeds on buried invertibrates. Also open ocean. 0-60m

Distribution: Indo-Pacific coastlines from South Africa to the central Pacific Ocean.

Diet: Feeds by plowing its flattened snout through the sand, scooping up buried invertebrates. Preys on a wide range of demersal crustaceans and mollusks such as hermit crabs, whelks, oysters and clams.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous. May produce litters of up to 10 pups but usually 4 or less.

Conservation Status: the spotted eagle ray is listed as VULNERABLE by the IUCN.

The Ocellated Eagle Ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) has recently been re-described as a separate species from the White-spotted Eagle Ray (A. narinari). This is a large eagle ray with a widespread distribution across the Indo-Pacific in tropical and warm-temperate waters. Recorded over the continental shelf from the surface to 60 m depth in coastal and open ocean environments. It sometimes enters lagoons and estuaries and is often associated with coral reef ecosystems.
The Ocellated Eagle Ray is recorded from landing sites across much of its range, particularly within Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. It is susceptible to capture from a variety of fishing gear and its range overlaps with areas of intense and generally unregulated fisheries in coastal and offshore environments. Estuarine habitats in which it occurs are affected by development and pollution across parts of its range.
The Ocellated Eagle Ray has low population rebound potential with low fecundity (1-4 pups per litter); long gestation period (12 months) and possibly 2-3 years between pregnancies; late maturation (five years), and an approximate 12-year generation period. Molecular studies demonstrate considerable population structuring for this eagle ray within the Indo-Pacific region, suggesting limited recruitment to exploited populations. Based on inferred population declines of >30% across much of its range, with ongoing threats due to largely unregulated fishing pressure and habitat degradation and destruction, the Ocellated Eagle Ray has a global assessment of Vulnerable. In Australian and Oceania waters (Pacific Island nations) where there is limited fishing pressure and some conservation measures in place through the use of marine reserves, this species is assessed as Least Concern.

Photographs: Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia.

Similar species: Recent genetic, morphological and parasitic study has split the spotted eagle ray into three species that can be identified easily by range. The spotted eagle ray Aetobatis ocellatus is present in the Indo-West/Central Pacific region. The whitespotted eagle ray is confined to the tropical Atlantic including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific eagle ray inhabits the tropical Eastern Pacific coast and Galapagos Islands.

Further studies may eventually split the central and western populations of A.ocellatus into two distinct species.

Reaction to divers: Somewhat shy and hard to approach. Easiest to approach when they are preoccupied with feeding.

Diving logistics: A common sight on many coral reefs throughout its range but appearances are often unpredictable. The dive site off Nuku Hiva where these images were taken, is one of thousands of sites where these rays gather. Elsewhere in French Polynesia, Rangiroa is also a hotspot. In February, spotted eagle rays mate on some of the deeper reefs (40-50m). At that time of year, you may see great hammerheads predating on them.

Citations:

Kyne, P.M., Dudgeon, C.L., Ishihara, H., Dudley, S.F.J. & White, W.T. 2016. Aetobatus ocellatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T42566169A42566212. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T42566169A42566212.en.

Rays of the World - Last, White, de Carvalho, Seret, Stehmann, and Naylor. CSIRO.

HOME LINKS TAXONOMY BOOKS CONTACT