spotted eagle ray spotted eagle ray fish eagle ray family found globally tropical regions including gulf_of_mexico hawaii coast west_africa indian_ocean oceania coasts americas depths meters rays commonly seen occasionally swim groups rays female retaining eggs releasing young miniature versions parent ray identified dark dorsal surface covered white spots rings near base ray relatively long tail pelvic fins barbed spotted eagle rays commonly feed small fish crustaceans dig look food buried sand sea bed rays commonly observed water occasions reported having jumped boats incident resulting death woman florida keys spotted eagle ray hunted wide variety sharks rays considered near threatened iucn red list mainly southeast_asia africa common market commercial trade protected great barrier reef taxonomy spotted eagle ray described swedish botanist specimen collected unknown location possibly coast brazil trip antilles later classified current genus derived greek words eagle ray spotted eagle ray belongs family includes known ray rays swim open ocean close sea floor spotted eagle ray different common names including white spotted eagle ray ray ray spotted duck billed ray description behavior spotted eagle rays flat disk shaped bodies deep blue black white spots white distinctive flat similar duck bill tails longer rays spines pelvic fins half long wing like pectoral disk small gills underside mature spotted eagle rays meters length largest wingspan meters mass kilograms reproduction male pursue female males approaches female uses upper jaw grab male roll female grabbing pectoral fins located body ventral male puts female connecting mating process lasts seconds spotted eagle ray develops eggs retained female hatch internally feeding yolk sac live birth gestation period year mother ray birth maximum pups pups born discs measure millimeters rays mature years feeding diet spotted eagle ray mainly crabs benthic feed crustaceans particularly crabs shrimp small fish spotted eagle ray specialized shaped tooth structure helps crush hard shells jaws rays developed help break shells supporting jaws preventing hard prey rays unique behavior digging sand ocean cloud sand surrounds ray sand gills study shown differences feeding habits males females rays different regions australia taiwan behavior spotted eagle rays prefer swim waters daily movement influenced tides tracking study showed active high tides uniquely rays dig sand surrounding cloud sand gills exhibit motions abdomen pectoral fins moved rapidly pelvic thrust extreme pelvic thrust pelvic thrust usually performed solitary ray repeated times rapidly extreme pelvic thrust commonly observed ray swimming group separate vigorously pectoral fins rays performs jumps dip ray dive come rapidly times main types jump ray vertically water returns line ray leaps degree angle repeated multiple times high speeds shallow waters outside normal swimming areas rays commonly seen schools form traveling called loose sixteen rays swimming loose group occasional interactions school commonly consists rays swimming direction exactly speed human interaction dorsal spots spotted eagle ray attraction large size likely kept public target fisheries spotted eagle ray eaten caught unintentionally reported incidents spotted eagle rays water boats landing people spotted eagle rays pose significant threat humans shy generally avoid human contact interactions individual caribbean reported especially jamaica involving spotted eagle rays rays exhibit behavior similar human curiosity allows observe eagle ray slow share time slower human observer human observer appears interesting spotted eagle ray predators parasites spotted eagle rays common rays fall victim sharks tiger shark lemon shark bull shark silver tip shark great shark great shark observed attacking spotted eagle ray open water taking large bite pectoral fins ray shark head pin ray ray jaws head sharks observed follow female rays season feed newborn pups rays spotted eagle rays host variety parasites internal parasites include spiral external parasites include gills distribution habitat spotted eagle rays found globally tropical regions western pacific_ocean indian_ocean western atlantic_ocean found shallow coastal water coral reefs bays depths meters spotted eagle rays found warm temperate waters worldwide western atlantic_ocean found eastern coast united_states_of_america caribbean past southern brazil indian_ocean found red_sea south_africa eastward western pacific_ocean found red_sea south_africa northern japan australia found area includes spotted eagle rays commonly seen bays reefs spend time swimming freely open waters generally schools close surface travel long distances day conservation spotted eagle ray included iucn red list near threatened rays caught mainly southeast_asia africa common commercial marine life trade displayed efforts help protect species south_africa decision deploy fewer protective shark nets reduced number deaths caused south_africa placed restrictions number rays bought person day state florida united_states fishing landing purchasing trading spotted eagle ray outlawed spotted eagle ray protected great barrier reef eastern coast australia popular culture ray spotted eagle ray appeared film teacher young fishes including appears sequel trying find substitute teacher annual migration job eventually filled hank ray voiced
Spotted eagle ray