Spotted Eagle Ray

The spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) is a cartilaginous fish belonging to the eagle ray family, Aetobatidae. Traditionally, it has been found in tropical regions worldwide, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and 🌊 Indian Oceans. However, recent authorities have redefined its distribution, limiting it to the Atlantic, including the Caribbean and 🌊 Gulf of Mexico. Other populations are now recognized as the ocellated eagle ray (A. ocellatus) and the Pacific white-spotted eagle ray (A. laticeps). Spotted eagle rays are typically solitary, but can occasionally be seen swimming in groups. They reproduce through ovoviviparity, with the female retaining the eggs and releasing miniature versions of the parent.

This ray species can be identified by its dark dorsal surface covered in white spots or rings. It possesses venomous, barbed stingers near the base of its relatively long tail, just behind the pelvic fins. Spotted eagle rays primarily feed on small fish and crustaceans, and have been observed digging with their snouts in search of buried food in the sandy sea bed. These rays are known for their ability to leap out of the water, and there have been reported incidents of them jumping into boats, occasionally resulting in unfortunate outcomes. Spotted eagle rays are preyed upon by various shark species. Currently, they are classified as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. They are primarily fished in Southeast Asia and Africa, mainly for commercial trade and aquariums. The species is protected in the Great Barrier Reef.

Spotted eagle rays have flat, disk-shaped bodies that are deep blue or black with white spots on top, while their underbelly is white. They have distinctive flat snouts resembling a duck's bill. Their tails are longer than those of other ray species and may contain 2-6 venomous spines behind the pelvic fins. The pectoral disk, which resembles wings, features five small gills on its underside. Mature spotted eagle rays can grow up to 5 meters (16 ft) in length. The largest individuals can have a wingspan of up to 3 meters (10 ft) and weigh as much as 230 kilograms (507 lb).

During mating, one male, or sometimes multiple males, will pursue a female. Upon approaching her, the male will use his upper jaw to grab her dorsum. He will then roll the female over by grasping one of her pectoral fins. This positioning allows the male to insert a clasper into the female, connecting their ventral sides. The mating process typically lasts for 30-90 seconds. Spotted eagle rays develop ovoviviparously, with the eggs being retained in the female and hatching internally as the pups feed off a yolk sac. After a gestation period of one year, a female ray will give birth to a maximum of four offspring. Newly born pups have a pectoral disk diameter ranging from 17-35 centimeters (6.7-13.8 in). The rays reach maturity within 4 to 6 years.

Spotted eagle rays primarily feed on bivalves, crabs, whelks, and other benthic infauna. They also consume molluscs, including the queen conch, and crustaceans, particularly malacostracans. Additionally, they feed on echinoderms, polychaete worms, hermit crabs, shrimp, octopuses, and small fish. These rays possess a specialized tooth structure shaped like chevrons, which enables them to crush the hard shells of molluscs. Their jaws have calcified struts that support them and prevent damage when breaking through the shells of hard prey. Spotted eagle rays also exhibit unique behavior by digging with their snouts in the ocean sand. This action creates a cloud of surrounding sand and leads to sand discharge from their gills. Research indicates that there are no notable differences in feeding habits between males and females or among individuals from different regions.

Traditional distributions indicate that spotted eagle rays inhabit tropical regions worldwide, including the Indo-Pacific, western 🌊 Pacific Ocean, 🌊 Indian Ocean, and western Atlantic Ocean. They are commonly found in shallow coastal waters near coral reefs and bays, with depths ranging up to 80 meters (262 ft). These rays can be observed in warm and temperate waters globally. In the western Atlantic Ocean, they are present along the eastern coast of the 🇺🇸 United States, the Gulf Stream, the Caribbean, and the southern part of 🇧🇷 Brazil. In the 🌊 Indian Ocean, their range extends from the 🌊 Red Sea to 🇿🇦 South Africa and eastward to the Andaman Sea. In the Western 🌊 Pacific Ocean, they can be found near 🇯🇵 Japan and north of 🇦🇺 Australia. Spotted eagle rays are also present throughout the Hawaiian Islands in the Central 🌊 Pacific Ocean. In the Eastern 🌊 Pacific Ocean, their range includes the Gulf of California and Puerto Pizarro, which encompasses the Galapagos Islands. These rays are most commonly sighted in bays and reefs, often swimming in schools near the water's surface. They are capable of covering long distances in a day. However, recent taxonomic revisions have split the species into three distinct populations: the true spotted eagle ray (A. narinari) in the Atlantic, the ocellated eagle ray (A. ocellatus) in the Indo-Pacific region, and the Pacific white-spotted eagle ray (A. laticeps) in the East Pacific.

It is worth mentioning that in Disney Pixar's films Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016), Mr. Ray is portrayed as a spotted eagle ray and serves as a teacher to Nemo and his friends.