Spotted Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Elasmobranchii
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Aetobatidae
- Genus
- Aetobatus
- Species
- Aetobatus ocellatus
The spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) is a graceful ray with a dark back covered in white spots and a long whip-like tail. This Indo-Pacific species was once lumped with the Atlantic Aetobatus narinari.
It can reach a wingspan of over 2.5 m. It uses its duck-bill snout to dig for clams, snails and crustaceans in the sand.
In the Philippines it is seen cruising along reef edges and over sandy flats, sometimes in small groups.