Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Carcharhiniformes
- Family
- Aetobatidae
- Genus
- Myliobatis
- Species
- tobijei
Habitat
Japanese eagle rays inhabit coastal waters of the Northwest Pacific, including areas around Japan, Korea, and China, often over sandy or muddy bottoms and near coral reefs. They prefer depths of 10 to 100 meters in temperate to warm waters, avoiding very deep or open ocean environments.
Diet
Japanese eagle rays primarily feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms, using their powerful jaws to crush shells. They exhibit benthic foraging behavior, often digging into the substrate during daylight hours to locate prey.
Behavior
Japanese eagle rays are typically solitary or form loose groups, resting on the seafloor during the day and becoming more active at dawn and dusk. They are known to leap out of the water, possibly to evade predators or dislodge parasites, and can be territorial around feeding sites. These rays are generally non-aggressive but will use their tail spine for defense if threatened.
Conservation Status
Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN.