There are many spotted eagle ray facts, which are not very well known, and yet these animals often take our breath away with their beauty. In this article, we are going to learn more about this beautiful dive buddy.
There are at least 14 families of rays, and yes, the spotted eagle ray is in the same family as the manta ray. The main difference between one and the other is the eagle rays’ tail ends in a thorn that contains a toxic substance, although it is not deadly for humans.
The Spotted Eagle Ray Facts: its body
The scientific name for the spotted eagle ray is Aetobatus narinari, from the subfamily Myliobatidae. Among the most significant spotted eagle ray facts, we find its rhomboidal body, which constitutes a rather complex system. A specimen can measure up to 16.4 feet (5 m), including the tail, weigh 507 pounds (230 kg) and reach a maximum wingspan of 9.8 feet (3 m) from fin to fin. Another point, the females are larger than the males.
Their large size does not make them clumsy animals, quite the contrary. The spotted eagle ray is a graceful and fast swimmer, which can make several leaps in a row over the surface of the sea and soar high into the air.