Animal Species:White-spotted Eagle Ray, Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen, 1790)

The White-spotted Eagle Ray has an angular shaped disc with white spots on the upper surface. This species grows to at least 3.5 m disc width and 8.8 m total length and occurs worldwide in tropical, coastal waters.

White-spotted Eagle Ray, Aetobatus narinari

White-spotted Eagle Ray, Aetobatus narinari
Ian Shaw © Ian Shaw

Identification

The White-spotted Eagle Ray has an angular shaped disc with white spots on the upper surface. The snout can vary in shape from spade-like in juveniles to pointed in large individuals (P. Last, CSIRO. pers. comm.). The whip-like tail has 2-6 spines.

Current research on this species may reveal that what is currently being called the White-spotted Eagle Ray may in fact be several species.

Size range

The species grows to at least 3.5 m disc width and 8.8 m total length.

Distribution

The White-spotted Eagle Ray occurs worldwide.

In Australia it is known from central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to the central coast of New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of White-spotted Eagle Ray specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The White-spotted Eagle Ray occurs worldwide in tropical, coastal waters.

Classification

Species:
narinari
Genus:
Aetobatus
Family:
Myliobatidae
Order:
Myliobatiformes
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  • Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  • Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  • Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  • Johnson, J.W. and Couper, P.J. 1998. Flotsam (p. 20-21). in Davie, P. (Ed). Wild Guide to Moreton Bay.  Wildlife and Habitats of a beautiful Australian Coast – Noosa to the Tweed. Queensland Museum . Pp. 408.
  • Last, P.R. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  • Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994 Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
  • Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  • Oh, J., Kim, S., Kim, C.-G., Soh, H.Y., Jeong, D. & Y.-H. Lee. 2006. The first record of Long Headed Eagle Ray, Aetobatus flagellum (Pisces: Myliobatidae) from Korea. Ocean Science Journal. 41(1): 53-57.
  • Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
  • Whitley, G. P., 1940. The Fishes of Australia. Part I. The Sharks, Rays, Devilfish and other Primitive Fishes of Australia and New Zealand. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Sydney. Pp. 280.

 


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Tags fisehs, fishes, ichthyology, White-spotted Eagle Ray, Aetobatus narinari, ray, stingray, marine, adult, angular shape, > 2m, tropical water, coatal water, white spots, dots/spots, worldwide,