ORNATE EAGLE RAY
'Aetomylaeus vespertilio'
NAME: Ornate Eagle Ray
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aetomylaeus vespertilio
STATUS: Endangered
POPULATION DECLINE: This elusive Ornate Eagle Ray is a true unicorn of the ocean, rarely spotted in the wild. Scientists don’t know much about their population size or structure, but here’s what we do know: they’re highly vulnerable to overfishing and live in areas with unregulated fisheries. Sadly, it’s estimated that their numbers have dropped by more than 50% over the past 45 years, a concerning decline for such a magnificent creature.
SIZE: They can grow to a maximum size of around 240 cm in disc width. Including their extremely long tail, they can have a maximum body length of 4m.
DISTRIBUTION: The Ornate Eagle Ray has a bit of a wanderlust spirit, with a scattered range across the Indo-West Pacific. You might find this rare beauty cruising the waters off Mozambique, the Red Sea, India, the Maldives, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, and northern Australia!
HABITAT: The Ornate Eagle Ray remains a bit of a mystery! This elusive species hangs out on the inner continental shelf, gliding gracefully over soft, sandy seabeds at depths of up to 110 metres.
DIET: They primarily feast on snails, mussels, and crustaceans, using their strong, shell-crushing teeth to break through tough exteriors.
BEHAVIOUR: Ornate Eagle Rays are social butterflies of the sea! You might spot them gliding solo or hanging out in small groups. As pelagic wanderers, they explore both coastal and offshore waters, embarking on seasonal migrations to find their next meal.
BIOLOGY:
- The reproductive habits of the Ornate Eagle Ray remain a mystery! However, like other eagle rays, they are thought to have low fertility, typically giving birth to small litters of up to four pups.
- We don’t yet know the exact age and growth details of the Ornate Eagle Ray. However, scientists estimate their generation length to be around 15 years, drawing comparisons to the Bat Ray, ‘Myliobatis californicus’, which matures at five years and can live up to 24 years!
THREATS: The Ornate Eagle Ray faces serious challenges from inshore fishing gear like trawls, gillnets, and trammel nets, which are widespread in regions like India, Thailand, and Indonesia. Once common, these rays have now become a rare sight in places like the Gulf of Thailand due to heavy exploitation. Caught by various fisheries, they often end up in markets across Southeast Asia. While most of their range is heavily fished, northern Australia remains a safer haven for these elusive rays.
FUN FACTS
- This Ray is often referred to as the unicorn of the sea, with fewer than 60 sightings worldwide, these creatures are extremely rare.
- They’re the largest of the eagle rays, with wingspans up to 2.4 meters.
- They are breathtaking, with golden bodies covered in patterns of dark stripes and spots, these markings are their unique fingerprints.
REFERENCES
- “The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species “- https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/60121/68607665#taxonomy.- “The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, www.iucnredlist.org/.
- Blue Ocean, “The Alluring Ornate Eagle Ray: A Journey Into The Life Of A Mesmerizing Marine Species” - https://www.blueocean-eg.com/blog/the-alluring-ornate-eagle-ray-a-journey-into-the-life-of-a-mesmerizing-marine-species#:~:text=Ornate%20Eagle%20Rays%20are%20known,%2C%20crustaceans%2C%20and%20small%20fish.