1. Family Myliobatidae
Eagle Rays

2. Taxonomy Rhinoptera Aetomylaeus Manta Mobula Aetobatus Myliobatis
Pteromylaeus

3. Taxonomy Mobulidae Superfamily Myliobatoidea Rhinopteridae
Manta
Mobulidae
Mobula
Superfamily
Myliobatoidea
Rhinopteridae
Rhinoptera
Aetomylaeus
Myliobatidae
Myliobatis
M. californica
M. australie
17 species
Aetobatus
A. narinari
Pteromylaeus

4. Morphology medium size: 1m-3m disc width fins: wing-like pectoral
dorsal insertion behind pelvic
caudal lacking
long, whip-like tail
1-6 short stinging spines

5. Morphology pavement-like teeth 1-7 rows papillae on roof of mouth
countershaded
may have spots/bars

6. Morphology rounded subrostral lobe different from: Rhinoptera
Manta, Mobula

7. Habitat and Distribution
semi-pelagic
inshore waters, up to 300m deep
associated with reefs, sandy flats, seagrass beds, lagoons,
shallow bays, estuaries

8. Habitat and Distribution
warm temperate-tropical
nearly worldwide- Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans
some genera- limited distribution, while others
widespread
A. narinari

9. Reproduction limited information mature ~half adult size
aplacental viviparous, histotroph nutrition
M. aquila- gestation 6-8 months
2-15 pups/litter, average=4-8
synchronized repro. cycles, but in different seasons
may breed every 1-3 years, little information available

10. Reproduction Behavior: Tricas 1980
close-following= olfaction-mediated reproduction?

11. Prey/Feeding Habits
use subrostral lobe to dig up invertebrates, esp. bivalves

12. Behavior fly/glide through water column- active may leap out of water
social- schooling
migration

13. Predators
sharks (hammerhead)
marine mammals
people

14. Human Importance
low commercial value, but increasing in seafood markets
bycatch in other fisheries
fishmeal, oil
nuiscance to bivalve fisheries
may sting fisherman, divers- Steve Irwin

15. Human Importance
popular in public aquariums/touch pools

16. Conservation Status IUCN: data deficient, least concern
M. australie- decreasing CPUE= declining?
habitat destruction may be an issue

17. Literature Cited
Bester, C Australian Bull Ray. Florida Museum Natural History, Ichthyology
Department. University of Florida. < Downloaded on 1
December 2007.
Bester, C Bat Ray. Florida Museum Natural History, Ichthyology
Bester, C Spotted Eagle Ray. Florida Museum Natural History, Ichthyology
Chapman, D.D. and S.H. Gruber A further observation of the prey-handling behavior of the great
hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran: predation upon the spotted eagle ray, Aetobatus
narinari. Bulletin of Marine Science 70(3):
Gonzalez-Isais, M. and H.M.M. Dominguez Comparative anatomy of the superfamily
Myliobatoidea (Chondrichthyes) with some comments on phylogeny. Journal of
Morphology 262:
IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. < Downloaded on 1