Spotted Eagle Rays

Photo courtesy from Wikimedia Commons

Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari)

Max. Length: 330 centimeters (wingspan)
Length at 1st Maturity: 153.8 centimeters
a value: 0.00586
b value: 3.130
Depth Range:  1 – 80 meters (3 – 260 feet)
Frequency: Near Threatened due to Unsustainable Fishing

Photo courtesy from biogeodb.stri.si.edu

If you try to compare a Spotted Eagle Ray to a Manta ray, you will end up with a long list of differences between the two species. In terms of body structure, eagle rays are smaller than mantas and their body coloration greatly differs where a manta has a solid black surface while eagle rays are spotted black embossed with white circles. The mouth of an eagle ray has a sub-terminal position designed for searching food at the bottom while mantas have a terminal mouth used for filter feeding.

Observe with Caution

Photo courtesy from aquatichyk

You can find a spotted eagle ray in almost all of the dive sites in Cocos island where your first impression of the animal can be calm and gentle. Yes, that is true. Spotted eagle rays pose no threat to divers except when you adversely provoke them.

You should take note that a spotted eagle ray has one of the longest tail in the stingray family where it is equipped with 2 to 6 venomous barb that can pierce through your wet suit. An attack from a spotted eagle ray can possibly inflect traumatogenic wounds. In case of an accident, you should administer first aid to the injured diver by addressing blood loss prevention. Applying direct pressure to the inflected wound can cause clotting thereby preventing continued loss of blood. For severe cases, the care of a hospital facility is highly recommended as the wound may not just be severely traumatized, but may also be infected with bacteria and parasite as spotted eagle rays are their known carriers.

At surface, there are times that you can see them in great numbers especially in the event after mating season. Be aware that they have the ability to leap out of the water and may accidentally hit you or your boat as there have been reports of this kind of accident.

At the end of the day, accidents involving a spotted eagle ray is very rare. So you just have to remember that we are the ones visiting their territory and we have to respect their environment and never provoke them.

Reference

Fishbase: www.fishbase.org

IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species: www.iucnredlist.org

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org

Video courtesy from donaldmackay

About Tristan Paylado
Tristan is a marine biologist and a CMAS 2-Star Dive Instructor
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