Spotted Eagle Ray

The spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) is easily identified by its white-spotted dark dorsal surface and long whip-like tail bearing venomous spines. It also has a distinctive, broad, flat snout that resembles a bird's beak, and a large disc-shaped body typically reaching widths of about 2 to 3 meters.

While spotted eagle rays possess venomous spines on their tails, they are generally docile and not aggressive toward humans. The spines serve as a defense mechanism against predators such as sharks, and injuries to humans are rare and typically occur only when a ray is handled or directly threatened.

The spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) is found circumtropically, meaning it occurs in tropical and warm-temperate waters around the world. Common sighting locations include the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the waters off Florida and Brazil, and across the Indo-Pacific.

Spotted eagle rays feed primarily on benthic organisms such as mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish, using their flat, plate-like teeth to crush hard-shelled prey like clams, oysters, and snails. They often use their snout to dig into sandy seafloors to uncover buried food.