Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Carcharhiniformes
- Family
- Aetobatidae
- Genus
- Myliobatis
- Species
- tenuicaudatus
Habitat
Eagle rays inhabit warm temperate and tropical coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific, including bays, estuaries, and continental shelves over sandy or muddy bottoms. They prefer depths from shallow inshore areas to about 100 meters, often migrating to deeper waters seasonally.
Diet
Eagle rays primarily feed on mollusks like clams and mussels, as well as crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp, which they crush with their flat, plate-like teeth. They forage on the seafloor during daylight hours, using their pectoral fins to stir up sediment and uncover prey.
Behavior
Eagle rays are often solitary or form loose groups, swimming gracefully near the surface or bottom and occasionally leaping out of the water. They are diurnal, active during the day for feeding, and may exhibit migratory behavior to follow food sources or warmer waters. Territorial disputes are rare, but they can be cautious around divers or boats.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.