Eagle ray

Eagle rays are a unique group of cartilaginous fishes. They belong to the family Myliobatidae. Unlike many other rays, they mostly live in the open ocean. They do not spend their time resting on the sea floor. Instead, they swim through the water with great skill. Their bodies are shaped like a rhombus, which is a diamond shape. They also possess very long tails.

These rays have a specialized way of eating. They primarily feed on crustaceans and mollusks. These prey animals often have hard outer shells. To handle this, eagle rays have evolved very flat teeth. They use these teeth to crush the shells effectively. This allows them to reach the food inside. They are also powerful and agile swimmers. Some eagle rays can even breach the water. They can leap several meters above the ocean surface.

Eagle rays have a specific way of reproducing. They are ovoviviparous. This means the mother gives birth to live young. A single mother can give birth to up to six young at one time. This process ensures the survival of the next generation in the open sea.

Scientists have long debated how to classify these animals. Classification is the way scientists group living things. Nelson's book, *Fishes of the World*, treats cownose rays, mantas, and devil rays as subfamilies of Myliobatidae. However, many other authors disagree. William Toby White preferred to keep the groups Rhinopteridae and Mobulidae outside of Myliobatidae. In 2014, White identified three main genera: *Aetobatus*, *Aetomylaeus*, and *Myliobatis*. A 2016 paper later changed this by placing *Aetobatus* in its own family, Aetobatidae.

The genus *Aetomylaeus* contains many different species. These rays are found in the Pacific, Indian, and Eastern Atlantic Oceans. One example is the spotted eagle ray, named in 1790. Another is the bull ray, named in 1817. Some species in this group are named because they lack a stinger on their tails. The genus *Myliobatis* is also very diverse. It includes the common eagle ray, which was named by Linnaeus in 1758. This species lives in the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Eagle rays vary greatly in size and habitat. Some species can reach a massive wingspan of 7 meters (23 feet). The genus *Myliobatis* includes the bat eagle ray in the Pacific Ocean. Some rays in this group have tails that look like whips. These tails can be as long as the body and may have a stinger. Most eagle rays live in shallow water near the coast. They are often seen cruising along sandy beaches. In rare cases, they can be found in depths of 150 meters. Some have even been found as deep as 200 meters.

Watching eagle rays in the wild can be a surprising experience. When they swim in very shallow water, their wings sometimes break the surface. This movement can create a specific visual effect. To an observer, it may look like two sharks are traveling together. This happens because of how their large wings move through the top layer of the water. Their presence is a significant part of the marine ecosystem in both shallow and deep waters.