Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Family Myliobatidae Eagle Rays Taxonomy Aetomylaeus Rhinoptera Manta Mobula Aetobatus Pteromylaeus Myliobatis Taxonomy Manta Mobulidae Mobula Superfamily Myliobatoidea Rhinopteridae Rhinoptera Aetomylaeus Myliobatidae Myliobatis 17 species M. californica M. australie Aetobatus A. narinari Pteromylaeus 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 Morphology pavement-like teeth 1-7 rows papillae on roof of mouth countershaded may have spots/bars Morphology rounded subrostral lobe different from: Rhinoptera Manta, Mobula Habitat and Distribution semi-pelagic inshore waters, up to 300m deep associated with reefs, sandy flats, seagrass beds, lagoons, shallow bays, estuaries Habitat and Distribution warm temperate-tropical nearly worldwide- Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans some genera- limited distribution, while others widespread A. narinari 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 Reproduction Behavior: Tricas 1980 close-following= olfaction-mediated reproduction? Prey/Feeding Habits use subrostral lobe to dig up invertebrates, esp. bivalves Behavior fly/glide through water column- active may leap out of water social- schooling migration Predators sharks (hammerhead) marine mammals people 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 Human Importance popular in public aquariums/touch pools Conservation Status IUCN: data deficient, least concern M. australie- decreasing CPUE= declining? habitat destruction may be an issue Literature Cited Bester, C. 2006. Australian Bull Ray. Florida Museum Natural History, Ichthyology Department. University of Florida. < http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/>. Downloaded on 1 December 2007. Bester, C. 2006. Bat Ray. Florida Museum Natural History, Ichthyology Department. University of Florida. < http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/>. Downloaded on 1 December 2007. Bester, C. 2006. Spotted Eagle Ray. Florida Museum Natural History, Ichthyology Department. University of Florida. < http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/>. Downloaded on 1 December 2007. Chapman, D.D. and S.H. Gruber. 2002. 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): 947-952 Gonzalez-Isais, M. and H.M.M. Dominguez. 2004. Comparative anatomy of the superfamily Myliobatoidea (Chondrichthyes) with some comments on phylogeny. Journal of Morphology 262: 517-535 IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 1 December 2007.