Spotted Eagle Ray

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Circumglobal pelagic ray: present in tropical and warm temperate coastal waters all over the world. Often swims in flocks near the surface in outer coral reefs, lagoons and mouths of large rivers.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Known as the Spotted Eagle Ray. Elasmobranch of the Myliobatidae family. Unmistakable for its diamond-shaped body (wing disk), elongated "duckbill" snout and a very long caudal whip armed with 1-5 poisonous stingers at the base. The "wings" can reach 3 meters (10 feet) in span.

Social Behavior: Splendid and graceful swimmer, often travels in boundless and synchronized groups in nature, plowing the oceans like birds. Very active, it spends its days scanning the sandy bottom to unearth crustaceans and mollusks.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Breathtaking dark blue, black or chocolate brown back, irregularly studded with dozens of white rings and spots. The belly is entirely pure white. Sexual dimorphism evident only in the presence of claspers (reproductive organs) in males under the pelvic fins.

Aquarium Setup: Exclusive species for large public aquariums. Unsuitable for any private home aquarium. Requires circular oceanic pools of hundreds of thousands of liters, devoid of sharp edges, blunt obstacles or exposed cables. The seabed must strictly be fine sand.

Diet and Feeding: Specialized carnivore (durophagous). It possesses very strong flat dental plates, designed as a nutcracker to crush bivalve shells. In captivity it is fed with whole crabs, oysters, clams, squid and prawns, administered in huge volumes.

Water Quality: Perfect and excellently filtered marine parameters. SG 1.020-1.025, tropical temperatures 24-28°C (75-82°F). Given the enormous production of waste (organic in liquid and solid form) by animals of this size, mammoth life-support systems (industrial foam fractionators, ozone, UV) are required.

Compatibility and Tankmates: In public aquariums it is often housed in pelagic tunnels, cohabiting peacefully with reef sharks, large groupers, jacks and sea turtles. Any slow, inert bottom fish or ornamental bivalve will be seen as a snack.

Aquarium Reproduction: Ovoviviparous (develops eggs inside the mother and gives birth to formed live pups). Achieved and carried to term only in very few excellent public aquariums worldwide, given the very long gestation cycle and the complex mating ritual.

Risks and Diseases: Animal exposed solely to the reckless megalomania of those who attempt to breed it privately; it will invariably die from stress and confinement injuries. Beware of the lethal and poisonous caudal stinger, capable of deadly puncture wounds and anaphylactic shock.