Aetobatus narinari

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Family : Eagle and manta rays; Commonly found in shallow inshore waters such as bays and coral reefs but may cross oceanic basins [1]. Sometimes enters estuaries[2]. Swims close to the surface, occasionally leaping out of the water, or close to the bottom (Ref. 3175). Frequently forming large schools during the non-breeding season [3]. Feeds mainly on bivalves but also eats shrimps, crabs, octopus and worms, whelks, and small fishes [1]. Ovoviviparous [4]. Flesh edible[5]. Maximum length 880 cm TL [5]. Bears young in litters of 4[6]. Tail spines are poisonous[7].

Near Threatened

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Click on the language to view common names.

Description

Physical Description

Habitat

The spotted eagle ray is commonly observed in bays and over coral reefs as well as the occasional foray into estuarine habitats . Although it occurs in inshore waters to depths of approximately 200 feet (60 m ), the spotted eagle ray spends most of its time swimming in schools in open water . In open waters, spotted eagle rays often form large schools and swim close to the surface. It is known to swim long distances across open waters as evidenced by its presence in Bermuda. This species is capable of leaping completely out of the water when pursued. It swims by "flying" gracefully through the water via the undulation of the pectoral fins. When this ray is caught and taken out of the water, it produces loud sounds . Although much research is still needed on the life history of the spotted eagle ray, it is known that this species shows high site fidelity (individuals often stay in or return to the same location). This ray also interacts socially with other individuals within its own species. May be found at depths of 1 to 80 meters.

Biome: Marine .

Ecology: Coastal and semipelagic over the continental shelf from the surface to 60 m depth. Sometimes enters lagoons and estuaries and often associated with coral-reef ecosystems (Michael 1993, Homma et al. 1994, Last and Stevens 1994). Solitary or found in large schools of up to several hundred individuals (McEachran and de Carvalho 2002). Although primarily observed near the coast and around islands and reefs, the species is likely to be capable of crossing ocean basins (Compagno and Last 1999).

Around coral reef environments, spotted eagle rays often enter coral lagoons to feed (Pohnpei Island, Federated States of Micronesia; Homma et al. 1994). Diet consists of a wide variety of benthic species including polychaetes , bivalve and gastropod molluscs , cephalopods , crustaceans and teleost fishes (Homma and Ishihara 1994, Last and Stevens 1994, Compagno and Last 1999, McEachran and de Carvalho 2002) with fish important prey items for adults (Michael 1993).

Aplacental viviparous. Little information available on reproductive biology although known to have low fecundity , bearing 1 to 4 pups/litter (Last and Stevens 1994). Homma et al. (1994) observed three gravid females in the Caroline Islands, two individuals carrying a single embryo and one carrying two embryos. Gestation has been reported at 12 months (Michael 1993) and reproductive periodicity may not be annual . These factors combine for limited reproductive output. Reported to reach sexual maturity after 4 to 6 years (Last and Stevens 1994). Although reaches 330 cm DW most observed are less than 200 cm DW (Compagno and Last 1999).

Catches taken in the protective shark nets off the beaches of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, occur throughout the year but peak in summer (January and February) (Young 2001). The overall sex ratio is unity but there is a significant association between sex and time of year, with more males than females caught in summer and more females than males in winter. Median disc width for each sex is 100 cm (Young 2001). Catches are rare in the southern part of the netted region, an apparent consequence of lower water temperatures (Young 2001).

It should be recognised that life history parameters are likely to vary between the different forms of A. narinari, which may turn out to represent interspecific differences.

Life history parameters
Age at maturity: 4 to 6 years (Last and Stevens 1994) (female); 4 to 6 years (Last and Stevens 1994) (male).
Size at maturity (total length): Unknown (female); Between 100 and 115 cm DW (Indonesia; W. White unpubl. data ) (male).
Longevity (years): Unknown.
Maximum size (total length): 330 cm DW (Last and Stevens 1994).
Size at birth: 26 cm DW (Last and Stevens 1994), 17 to 36 cm DW (Compagno and Last 1999).
Average reproductive age (years): Unknown.
Gestation time: 12 months (Michael 1993), but may be less..
Reproductive periodicity: Unknown.
Average annual fecundity or litter size : 1 to 4 pups/litter (Last and Stevens 1994).
Annual rate of population increase: Unknown.
Natural mortality : Unknown.[8].

List of Habitats :

•     9     Marine Neritic   
  
•     9.8     Marine Neritic - Coral Reef   
  
•     9.10     Marine Neritic - Estuaries   
  
•     10     Marine Oceanic   
  
•     10.1     Marine Oceanic - Epipelagic (0-200m)   
[more info]

Biology

Diet

Clams, oysters, shrimp, octopus , squid and sea urchins as well as bony fishes provide prey for the spotted eagle ray. This ray is well adapted with its shovel-shaped snout and duck-like bill for searching in the mud for benthic invertebrates . When a prey item is found, the ray crushes it with its plate-like teeth and uses the papillae located in the mouth to separate the shells from the flesh. Upon scientific observation, the stomach contents of spotted eagle rays contained intact prey items lacking any remnants of shells.

Reproduction

Mating behavior often includes the pursuit of a female by one or more males. These males grab her dorsum with their upper tooth plate . One male then grasps the edge of the female's pectoral fin and rolls to her ventral side. The male then inserts a clasper into the female ray. The actual mating lasts 30-90 seconds while the pair are positioned venter-to-venter. Females have been observed to mate in this manner with up to four males over a short time period.

Spotted eagle rays are ovoviviparous meaning the eggs develop inside the body and hatch within the mother. After being released from the egg, the embryos are nourished by a yolk sac rather than through a placental connection with the mother. Up to 4 pups are born in each litter , each measuring 6.7-13.8 inches (17-35 cm) disc width .

Behavior

Predators:

Sharks , including the silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus) and great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), are predators of the spotted eagle ray. Sharks have also been reported to follow spotted eagle rays during the birthing season , feeding on newborn pups .

Parasites:

Trematodes , including Thaumatocotyle pseudodasybatis, commonly infect the skin of the spotted eagle ray. Clemacotyle australis was reported in the branchial cavity of an individual caught in Australian waters and Decacotyle octona n. comb was found on the gills on another individual.

Acanthobothrium monski n. sp. and A. nicoyaense n. sp., both tapeworms , also parasitize the spotted eagle ray. In addition, a marine leech , Branchellion torpedinis, has been recorded on the pelvic fins of a specimen from Venezuelan waters.

Taxonomy

Synonyms

Aetobates narinari • Aetobates narinari (Euphrasen • Aetobates narinari (Euphrasen, 1790) • Aetobatis latirostris Duméril • Aetobatis narinari • Aetobatis narinari (Euphrasen • Aetobatis narinari (Euphrasen, 1790) • Aetobatus narinari • Myliobatis eeltenkee Rüppell • Myliobatis macroptera Mcclelland • Raia quinqueaculeata Quoy and Gaimard • Raja narinari • Raja narinari Euphrasen • Raja narinari Euphrasen, 1790 • Stoasodon narinari (Euphrasen

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 19-Oct-2000

The wide-ranging A. narinari is most probably a species-complex comprising numerous forms across its range . Based on external morphology, colouration, parasite fauna and distribution there are likely at least four species of ?spotted eagle rays? (J. Caira pers. comm. ). Revision of the species may show that there are indeed more forms. Molecular research is presently underway to help resolve this issue.

Compagno et al. (2005) reported narrow and wide disc morphs from the Philippines, which they suggest may represent separate species, with the broad specimens typical of Pacific A.narinari.

The type locality for A. narinari is uncertain as no types are known, but is thought to be Brazil. If indeed Indo-Pacific forms are shown to be distinct from Atlantic forms then Indo-Pacific species are nominal .[8].

Similar Species

Similar species sharing distribution ranges with the spotted eagle ray include the southern eagle ray (Myliobatis goodei) and the bullnose eagle ray (M. freminvillii). The southern eagle ray has a dorsal fin originating well behind the level of the rear edges of the pelvic fins while this fin originates just behind the pelvic fin insertion point in the spotted eagle ray. In contrast, the bullnose ray has a dorsal fin origin close to the level of the rear margins of the pelvic fins. Also the bullnose ray is absent from the Gulf of Mexico and the majority of the Caribbean Sea. The coloration of both of the southern eagle ray and the bullnose ray ranges from a uniform gray to reddish-brown with diffuse white spots on the dorsal surface. Another species that closely resembles the spotted eagle ray is the longheaded eagle ray (Aetobatus flagellum). However the uniform coloration of the dorsal side of the longheaded eagle easily distinguishes it from spotted eagle ray which has a spot pattern on the topside of its body.

Members of the genus Aetobatus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 4 species and subspecies in this genus:

A. flagellum (Longheaded Eagle Ray) · A. guttatus (Sharpwing Eagle Ray) · A. narinari (White-Spotted Eagle Ray) · A. ocellatus (Winter Skate)

More Info

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Further Reading

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• A guide to the study of fishes, by David Starr Jordan. .. New York, H. Holt and Company, 1905. url p. 557.
• A list of common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. Report presented at the eighty-ninth annual meeting, Clearwater, Fla., Sept. 16-18, 1959. Ann Arbor, Mich., 1960. url p. 9.
• A list of the fishes of Hawaii, with notes and descriptions of new species, by David Starr Jordan and Eric Knight Jordan. Pittsburgh, Board of trustees of the Carnegie Institute, 1922. url p. 5.
• A list of the fishes of Hawaii: with notes and descriptions of new species / by David Starr Jordan and Eric Knight Jordan. Pittsburgh: Published by the authority of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Institute, 1922. url p. 5.
• A manual of the vertebrate animals of the northern United States, including the district north and east of the Ozark mountains, south of the Laurentian hills, north of the southern boundary of Virgini by David Starr Jordan. Chicago: A.C. McClurg, 1910. url p. 350.
• Anatomischer Anzeiger. Jena: G. Fischer, 1886- url p. 16.
• Annual report of the Director to the Board of Trustees for the year. .. / Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, U.S.A.: Field Museum of Natural History, 1907-1943. url p. 452.
• Bulletin - United States National Museum. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, [etc.];1877-1971. url , p. 471.
• Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. New YorkAmerican Museum of Natural History1881- url p. 29, p. x.
• Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries. Washington, D.C.: Govt. Print. Off., 1905-1950. url p. 278, p. 281, p. 284, p. 453.
• Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. Cambridge, Mass.: The Museum, 1863- url p. 103, p. 103, p. 73, p. 73, plate XLIX.
• California fish and game. [San Francisco, etc.]: State of California, Resources Agency, Dept. of Fish and Game. url p. 252, p. 81.
• Carnegie Institution of Washington publication. Washington, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1902- url , , p. 138, p. 14, p. 241, p. 244, p. 262, p. 265, p. 271, p. 272, p. 277, p. 306, p. 307, p. 308, p. 309, p. 312, p. 317.
• Contents and index to volume 7, numbers 1 to 12, Zoological series / Charles B. Cory. 7 1912 Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History, 1912. url p. 419.
• Contributions to biology from the Hopkins Seaside Laboratory of the Leland Stanford Jr. University. Stanford University, Calif.: The University, 1895-1904. url p. 18, p. 207.
• Copeia. [New York, N.Y., etc.]: American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. url .
• Dahlak: with the Italian National Underwater Expedition in the Red Sea, by Gianni Roghi and Francesco Baschieri. Translated from the Italian by Priscilla Hastings. Edited by Eleanor Brochett. With 11 full colour and 40 monochrome photos. Fair Lawn, N.J.Essential books1957 url p. 254.
• Dangerous marine animals. Cambridge, Md., Cornell Maritime Press, 1959. url p. 139, p. 57, p. 58, p. 63.
• Dean bibliography of fishes. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1971-1973. url p. 180, p. 226, p. 279, p. 333, p. 7.
• FWS/0BS. [Washington]Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior. url p. 112.
• Field book of giant fishes, by J. R. Norman and F. C. Fraser. With 8 plates in full color and over 100 drawings by W. P. C. Tenison. New York, G. P. Putnam[1949] url index, page 350.
• Fishery bulletin / U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service. Washington, D.C.: The Service: url p. 540.
• Fishery circular / U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Fisheries. [Washington]: The Bureau, 1931-1939. url p. 127, p. 16, p. 27, p. 31, p. 33, p. 5, p. 68, p. 76, p. 77, p. 82, p. 90, p. 93, p. 99.
• Fishes of the Crane Pacific expedition, by Albert W. Herre. 21 1936 Chicago, 1936. url p. 15, p. 17, p. 18, p. 20, p. 24, p. 461.
• Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Editorial board: editor-in-chief John Tee-Van [and others] New Haven, Sears Foundation for Marine Research, Yale Univ., 1948- url , p. 434, p. 451, p. 452, p. 453, p. 454, p. 460, p. 461, p. 462.
• Fishes, New York, H. Holt and Company, 1907. url .
• Guide to marine fishes; [a new method for identification of marine fishes. New York]New York University Press[1961] url p. 255, p. 268, p. 423.
• Guide to the marine isopod crustaceans of the Caribbean / Brian Kensley and Marilyn Schotte. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, c1989. url p. 166, p. 293.
• Hawaiian fishes; a handbook of the fishes found among the islands of the central Pacific ocean, by Spencer Wilkie Tinker. .. illustrated by Gordon S. C. Chun and Y. Oda. Honolulu, Hawaii, Tongg publishing company, 1944. url p. 31, p. 386.
• Journal of ethnobiology. 12-13 1992-1993 Flagstaff, Ariz.: Center for Western Studies, 1981- url p. 131.
• Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco: The Academy, 1868- url p. 18, p. 18, p. 207, p. 207.
• Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. Cambridge [Mass.]: The Museum, 1876-1940. url , , , p. 12, p. 441, p. 8.
• Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. Brisbane, Queensland Museum, 1912- url p. 89.
• Occasional papers of Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Honolulu, Bishop Museum Press, 1898-1984. url p. 20, p. 20, p. 21, p. 21.
• Occasional papers. Honolulu, Bishop Museum Press. url p. 20, p. 21.
• Oceanus. Woods Hole, Mass., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution url p. 93.
• Pamphlets on forestry. Fish and game. [1900?- url p. 2753, p. 3234, p. 88.
• Papers from the Tortugas Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1908-42. url , , p. 241, p. 242, p. 243, p. 252, p. 254, p. 262, p. 272, p. 276, p. 277, p. 280, p. 295, p. 307, p. 309, p. 314, p. 317.
• Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. Washington, Biological Society of Washington url p. 101, p. 1230, p. 1232, p. 1250, p. 150, p. 185, p. 94.
• Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco: California Academy of Sciences, 1979- url p. 341.
• Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, [etc.] url p. 32, p. 553, p. 691.
• Publication. Field Columbian Museum. Chicago, U.S.A.: The Museum, 1895-1909. url p. 30, p. 419.
• Publication. Field Museum of Natural History. Chicago, U.S.A.: The Museum, 1910-1943. url p. 89.
• Report of the Commissioner for. .. / United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries. Washington: G.P.O., 1874-1905. url p. 224, p. 224, p. 357, p. 357, p. 50.
• Science and the sea. Washington, U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office; For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off. url p. 32.
• Science. New York, N.Y.: [s.n.]1880- url p. 915.
• Shadows in the sea: the sharks, skates and rays [by] Harold W. McCormick and Tom Allen, with William E. Young. Philadelphia, Chilton Books[1963] url index , figure , p. 395.
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• The Natural history of Enewetak Atoll / edited by Dennis M. Devaney. .. [et al.]; prepared by Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Department of Energy. Oak Ridge, Tenn.: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Energy Research, Office of Health and Environmental Research, Ecological Research Division, c1987. url p. 290.
• The Nautilus. Melbourne, Fla., etc., American Malacologists, inc., etc. url p. 91.
• The Plagiostomia: Sharks, skates, and rays / by Samuel Garman; with seventy-seven plates. 36 1913 Cambridge, U.S.A.: Printed for the Museum, 1913. url descr. of plate 54 , p. 441, p. 8, p. xii.
• The Popular science monthly. New York, Popular Science Pub. Co., etc. url p. 263.
• The biology of marine animals. New York, Interscience Publishers[1960] url p. 672.
• The fishes of North Carolina / Raleigh, N.C.: E.M. Uzzell, 1907. url , .
• The fishes of North Carolina, by Hugh M. Smith. Raleigh, E. M. Uzzell & co., state printers and binders, 1907. url , p. 46.
• The fishes of North and Middle America a descriptive catalogue of the species of fish-like vertebrates found in the waters of North America, north of the Isthmus of Panama / by David Starr Jordan and Barton Warren Evermann. Washington: G.P.O., 1898. url .
• The fishes of Panama Bay, by Charles H. Gilbert and Edwin C. Starks. 1904 San Francisco, The Academy, 1904. url p. 18, p. 207.
• The marine fishes of Panama. by Seth E. Meek and Samuel F. Hildebrand. 15 1923 Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History, 1923 url p. 89.
• Transactions - American Fisheries Society. Lawrence, Kan. [etc.] url p. 38.
• Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. [Bethesda, MD, etc.: American Fisheries Society], 1900- url p. 38.
• Where, when, and how to catch fish on the east coast of Florida, by William H. Gregg, assisted by Capt. John Gardner. Buffalo: Matthews-Northrup, 1902. url p. 26.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 13, 2012.
• FishBase. Release date: January 5, 2010
• Froese, R., and D. Pauly. FishBase 2004. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 01, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 10 providers.
• IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. . Downloaded on January 28, 2012.
• Kyne, P.M., Ishihara, H, Dudley, S.F.J. & White, W.T. 2006. Aetobatus narinari. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloadedon 30January2012.
• McEachran, John (from FishBase).
• Ruggiero M., Gordon D., Bailly N., Kirk P., Nicolson D. (2011). The Catalogue of Life Taxonomic Classification, Edition 2, Part A. In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist (Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D., eds). DVD; Species 2000: Reading, UK.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

• FishBase: FishBase DiGIR Provider - Philippine Server
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: AIMS - Baited Remote Underwater Video Station (OBIS Australia)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: CSIRO Marine Data Warehouse (OBIS Australia)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: iziko South African Museum - Fish Collection
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: iziko South African Museum - Shark Collection
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity - Fish Collection (AfrOBIS)
• Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History: Vertebrate specimens
• Marine Science Institute, UCSB: Paleobiology Database
• Museum national d'histoire naturelle: Ichtyologie
• Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University: MCZ Fish Collection
• OZCAM (Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums) Provider: Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums
• Royal Ontario Museum: Fish specimens
• Senckenberg: Collection Pisces
• UNIBIO, IBUNAM: CNPE/Coleccion Nacional de Peces

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 119361
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Fis-23322
• Fishbase Species ID: 1250
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13852782
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 160978
• IUCN ID: 189109
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 95

Footnotes

1. Compagno, L.J.V. (1997). Myliobatidae. Eagle rays. In K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) FAO Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Western Central Pacific. [back]
2. Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens (1994). Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia. 513 p. [back]
3. Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986). A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p. [back]
4. Dulvy, N.K. and J.D. Reynolds (1997). Evolutionary transitions among egg-laying, live-bearing and maternal inputs in sharks and rays. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 264:1309-1315. [back]
5. Sommer, C., W. Schneider and J.-M. Poutiers (1996). FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of Somalia. FAO, Rome. 376 p. [back]
6. Smith, C.L. (1997). National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p. [back]
7. Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder (1953). Sawfishes, guitarfishes, skates and rays. p. 1-514. In J. Tee-Van et al. (eds.) Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Part two. New Haven, Sears Found. Mar. Res., Yale Univ. [back]
8. Kyne, P.M., Ishihara, H, Dudley, S.F.J. & White, W.T. 2006. Aetobatus narinari. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 30 January 2012. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.