Eagle Rays (Aetobatidae)
Eagle rays (family Aetobatidae) are marine rays recognised by their long duck-like snout. They occur in warm-temperate and tropical coastal waters worldwide, inhabiting continental shelves, coral reefs, lagoons, estuaries and shallow offshore waters. They have broad wing-like pectoral discs and a long whip-like tail. Their flattened head projects well beyond the pectoral disc, giving them the characteristic eagle-like profile from which they derive their common name.
Eagle rays are powerful and graceful swimmers that frequently cruise well above the seabed, using their large pectoral fins to propel themselves through the water with graceful, bird-like movements. Although equipped with a venomous spine near the base of the tail, eagle rays are active swimmers rather than bottom-resting rays and are therefore less likely to be accidentally stepped on. Some species are also capable of leaping completely out of the water.
Eagle rays feed mainly on hard-shelled molluscs, crustaceans and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Their broad, plate-like teeth form powerful crushing plates capable of breaking the shells of clams, oysters, mussels and crabs. Like other rays, they are viviparous, giving birth to well-developed live young after the embryos develop inside the mother.
The family Aetobatidae contains a single genus, Aetobatus, with about five recognised species. Two species occur naturally in Malaysian waters.
Eagle rays are powerful and graceful swimmers that frequently cruise well above the seabed, using their large pectoral fins to propel themselves through the water with graceful, bird-like movements. Although equipped with a venomous spine near the base of the tail, eagle rays are active swimmers rather than bottom-resting rays and are therefore less likely to be accidentally stepped on. Some species are also capable of leaping completely out of the water.
Eagle rays feed mainly on hard-shelled molluscs, crustaceans and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Their broad, plate-like teeth form powerful crushing plates capable of breaking the shells of clams, oysters, mussels and crabs. Like other rays, they are viviparous, giving birth to well-developed live young after the embryos develop inside the mother.
The family Aetobatidae contains a single genus, Aetobatus, with about five recognised species. Two species occur naturally in Malaysian waters.
Scientific Name: Aetobatus flagellum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
English Name: Longheaded Eagle Ray
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Móguǐ yú), 燕子魟 (Yànzi hóng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Pari Burung
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระเบนนกหัวยาว (Plāk ra ben nk h̄ạw yāw)
Main Identification Features: Very long, narrow snout projecting well beyond the mouth. Upper surface plain brown to olive without white spots.
Size: Maximum 72 cm disc width, commonly to 40 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Inshore coastal and estuarine waters over sandy or muddy bottoms. Feeds mainly on molluscs and crustaceans.
Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Handling Remarks: Possesses a venomous tail spine and should be handled with care.
Scientific Name: Aetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823)
English Name: Ocellated Eagle Ray, Sharpwing Eagle Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 斑点鹞鲼 (Bāndiǎn yào fèn), 睛斑鹞鲼 (Jīng bān yào fèn), 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Móguǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Pari Helang, Pari-lang Bintik Putih
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระเบนค้างคาว (Plāk ra ben kĥāngkhāw), ปลากระเบนนกจุดขาว (Plāk ra ben nk cud k̄hāw)
Main Identification Features: One continuous projecting snout resembling a duck’s bill. Numerous white spots on a dark greenish grey disc.
Size: Maximum 300 cm disc width, commonly to 180 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Inshore coastal and estuarine waters to depths of about 80 m. A powerful, active, agile swimmer, often seen near the surface and leaping completely out of the water. Feeds on polychaetes, bivalve and gastropod molluscs, cephalopods, crustaceans and teleost fishes.
Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Handling Remarks: Possesses a venomous tail spine and should be handled with care.
Naming Remarks: Aetobatus ocellatus was formerly included in the widespread Atlantic Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari) and may still be listed under that name in older publications. For many years, nearly all spotted eagle rays worldwide were identified as Aetobatus narinari. Molecular and morphological studies later showed that the species was actually a complex, and the Indo-West Pacific populations are now generally recognised as Aetobatus ocellatus.
English Name: Longheaded Eagle Ray
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Móguǐ yú), 燕子魟 (Yànzi hóng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Pari Burung
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระเบนนกหัวยาว (Plāk ra ben nk h̄ạw yāw)
Main Identification Features: Very long, narrow snout projecting well beyond the mouth. Upper surface plain brown to olive without white spots.
Size: Maximum 72 cm disc width, commonly to 40 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Inshore coastal and estuarine waters over sandy or muddy bottoms. Feeds mainly on molluscs and crustaceans.
Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Handling Remarks: Possesses a venomous tail spine and should be handled with care.
Scientific Name: Aetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823)
English Name: Ocellated Eagle Ray, Sharpwing Eagle Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 斑点鹞鲼 (Bāndiǎn yào fèn), 睛斑鹞鲼 (Jīng bān yào fèn), 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Móguǐ yú)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Pari Helang, Pari-lang Bintik Putih
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระเบนค้างคาว (Plāk ra ben kĥāngkhāw), ปลากระเบนนกจุดขาว (Plāk ra ben nk cud k̄hāw)
Main Identification Features: One continuous projecting snout resembling a duck’s bill. Numerous white spots on a dark greenish grey disc.
Size: Maximum 300 cm disc width, commonly to 180 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Inshore coastal and estuarine waters to depths of about 80 m. A powerful, active, agile swimmer, often seen near the surface and leaping completely out of the water. Feeds on polychaetes, bivalve and gastropod molluscs, cephalopods, crustaceans and teleost fishes.
Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Handling Remarks: Possesses a venomous tail spine and should be handled with care.
Naming Remarks: Aetobatus ocellatus was formerly included in the widespread Atlantic Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari) and may still be listed under that name in older publications. For many years, nearly all spotted eagle rays worldwide were identified as Aetobatus narinari. Molecular and morphological studies later showed that the species was actually a complex, and the Indo-West Pacific populations are now generally recognised as Aetobatus ocellatus.
