Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Myliobatiformes (Stingrays) >
Aetobatidae (Pacific eagle rays)
Etymology: Aetobatus: Greek, aetos = eagle + Greek, batis, batidos = a ray (Raja sp.) (Ref. 45335).
Issue
Status of Aetobatus latirostris Duméril, 1861 requires further investigation. Species information (common names) should be linked to correct species (see Ref. 114963).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 80 m (Ref. 9710). Subtropical; 36°N - 24°S, 98°W - 15°E
Western Atlantic and probably Eastern Atlantic. Indo-Pacific species refer to Aetobatus ocellatus; Eastern Pacific species refers to A. laticeps.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 107.4, range 110 - 120 cm
Max length : 230 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 114953); common length : 140 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 114953); max. published weight: 230.0 kg (Ref. 7251)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. An eagleray with a long snout, flat and rounded like a duck's bill, a thick head, and a pectoral disc with sharply curved, angular corners, and no caudal fin; jaws usually with single row of flat, chevron-shaped teeth (Ref. 5578). Each tooth a crescent-shaped plate joined into a band (Ref. 26938). Numerous white spots on black or bluish disc; white below (Ref. 5578). Long whiplike tail, with a long spine near the base, behind small dorsal fin. No spines on disk (Ref. 7251).
Commonly found in coastal habitats to at least 60 m depth (Ref. 114953). Swims close to the surface, occasionally leaping out of the water, or close to the bottom (Ref. 3175). Frequently forming large schools during the non-breeding season (Ref. 7251). Feeds on polychaetes, bivalves, gastropods, cepahlopods, shrimps and small fishes (Ref. 114953). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Bears young in litters of 2-4 (Ref. 26938, 114953).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). Bears up to 4 young (Ref. 5578, 6871, 37816). Width at birth 17-35 cm (Ref. 37816).
According to Uchida et al (1990) (Ref. 51119) 'the male chases the female in mid water, then nibbles on her dorsal surface. The female stops swimming to begin copulation. The male bites the female on a pectoral fin and bends one clasper forward, then attempts an abdomen to abdomen copulation with either clasper, usually mid-water' (Ref. 49562). Copulation lasted for 20 seconds to 1 minute (Ref. 49562).
Last, P.R., W.T. White, M.R. de Carvalho, B. Séret, M.F.W. Stehmann and G.J.P. Naylor, 2016. Rays of the world. CSIRO Publishing, Comstock Publishing Associates. i-ix + 1-790. (Ref. 114953)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic (Ref. 4690)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 22.3 - 29, mean 27.5 °C (based on 4014 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.2 ±0.1 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tm=4-6; Fec=1-2).
Prior r = 0.06, 95% CL = 0.04 - 0.09, Based on 1 data-limited stock assessment.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (85 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 9.92 [1.89, 44.45] mg/100g; Iron = 0.495 [0.123, 1.361] mg/100g; Protein = 22 [17, 27] %; Omega3 = 0.253 [0.077, 0.713] g/100g; Selenium = 25.2 [7.7, 73.8] μg/100g; VitaminA = 8.16 [2.83, 22.84] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.526 [0.255, 0.991] mg/100g (wet weight);
