Fast Facts: Spotted Eagle Ray
Like an angel flying though the blue
The Spotted Eagle Ray : Aetobatus narinari
Description: As one of the ocean's largest eagle rays, the Spotted Eagle Ray lives up to its namesake with its spotted 11 feet long, 500-pound body. White markings dot the Spotted Eagle Ray's dark blue & black diamond-shaped body and match the white ray's white underbelly. Like other stingray species, the Spotted Eagle Ray has several venomous spines, or stingers, located behind the pelvic fins near the tails. However, unlike other stingray species, the Spotted Eagle Ray has a long tail that almost matches its body length!
Habitat: Spotted Eagle Rays are typically found in warm, shallow, and open waters, such as coastal waters. Clinging to regions near coral reefs and coastlines as these temperate waters are rich in benthic dwellers, a main part of this Eagle Ray's diet, these rays can be found from the western Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
Diet: Preying on mollusks, crabs, shrimp, and small fish, the Spotted Eagle Ray's diets vary depending on the season because certain types of prey have different types of availability during the year. See Unique Traits for more information on the Spotted Eagle Ray's feeding habits.
Behavior: Commonly seen in groups, the Spotted Eagle Ray joins other members of its species to burrow into the sand to look for prey. This unique feeding technique is most often seen when the Spotted Eagle is in groups. These groups may range from 50 members to 100. However, these Eagle Rays are also seen individually; they have no long-standing loyalty to any group they may become a part of. Additionally, scientists have noted that Spotted Eagle Ray movements are influenced by the tides; high tide is when Spotted Eagle Rays are observed to be most active.
Conservation Status: Listed as Near Threatened, the Spotted Eagle Ray population has been declining since 2000. A main factor in this decline is because Eagle rays have become a big part of marine animal commercial trade; many are caught to be sold to aquariums. However, because scientists have determined that there may be multiple species of Spotted Eagle Rays, the true population and conservation status of the Spotted Eagle Ray is unknown.
Unique Traits: The Spotted Eagle Ray has several unique anatomical features it utilizes to feed. One of the most notable is its triangular shaped snout that the ray uses to burrow into sea substrate for benthic invertebrates like crabs and mollusks. Following this, the Spotted Eagle Ray then uses mouth papillae to remove the shells of its prey so it can be digested in the ray's stomach.
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