Eagle Ray

Common family name

Eagle ray

Others in family

Bonnet, Smooth-tail, Manta, Common, Bull, Cownose and Devil

Scientific name

Myliobatidae

Size

Up to 3 m wingspan.

Identification

Rounded body with triangular wings. Head is above body. Darker on top, from black to grey, sometimes with spots or dark patterns. White underside. Eyes are on the side of the head.

General Info

Myliobatidae family consists of 7 genera and 42 species. Very fast swimmers. The tail is longer than the body. Some rays have a snout, like the Eagle and Bull rays. Ventral mouth. Flat, chevron-shaped, pavement-like teeth used to crush food. Ovoviviparous. Young are born fully developed.

Feeding

Feeds on molluscs and crustaceans.

Distribution

Occurs in all temperate and tropical oceans of the world.

Common Species

Eagle ray - Myliobatis aquila
Flapnose ray - Rhinoptera javanica
White-spotted eagle ray - Aetobatus narinari