Aetobatidae – Eagle rays

This family is part of the order Myliobatiformes, which also includes stingrays and manta rays, but the eagle rays stand apart with their broad, diamond-shaped bodies, long, slender tails, and distinctive pointed snouts that resemble the beak of an eagle. Found in warm and tropical waters around the world, from coral reefs to open coastal seas, members of Aetobatidae are both stunningly beautiful and ecologically important. The family’s most well-known representative, the spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari), has become a beloved icon of tropical marine life, admired for its bold white spots and graceful underwater “flight.”

While stingrays spend much of their time lying buried in sand, eagle rays are pelagic, meaning they roam the open water, gliding through the ocean with effortless grace. Their large, winglike pectoral fins beat in a rhythmic, wave-like motion, propelling them forward with astonishing agility and control. This gives them an almost birdlike appearance—hence their name. They can often be seen soaring above coral reefs or sandy flats, sometimes even leaping out of the water in powerful bursts that send them spinning through the air. Scientists believe these leaps may serve multiple purposes: communication, mating displays, or parasite removal.

Members of this family are also specialized hunters. Beneath their pointed snouts lie strong, plate-like teeth designed to crush hard-shelled prey such as mollusks, crustaceans, and sea urchins. Their hunting technique is both powerful and delicate: using electroreception, they detect the faint electrical signals of buried prey, then dig into the seafloor with their snouts to uncover it. This foraging behavior helps aerate the sediment and recycle nutrients, making eagle rays key contributors to healthy marine ecosystems. Despite their strength, they are gentle and non-aggressive, feeding mainly at night or during calm daylight hours near the seabed.