Myliobatidae - eagle rays

There are 19 species in this family. They are found in tropical and temperate ocean waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.

They have long, triangular pectoral fins; long, whip-like tails with a small dorsal fin at the base, and a barbed venomous spine located behind their dorsal fin.

Unlike most rays, eagle rays flap their pectoral fins to propel themselves through the water! Some species, like the bat ray, can even leap up out of the water and skim along the water's surface! The rays in this family eat mollusks, fish, and crustaceans.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
None		Spotted Eagle Ray - Aetobatus narinari Bat Ray - Myliobatis californicus Bullnose Ray - Myliobatis freminvillii Southern Eagle Ray - Myliobatis goodei Longnose Eagle Ray - Myliobatis longirostris Roughskin Bullray - Pteromylaeus asperrimus

Species Around the World
Location Key Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Arctic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Mediterranean/Black Sea Pacific Ocean
Longheaded Eagle Ray - Aetobatus flagellum Sharpwing Eagle Ray - Aetobatus guttatus Spotted Eagle Ray-Aetobatus narinari Mottled Eagle Ray - Aetomylaeus maculatus Banded Eagle Ray - Aetomylaeus nichofii Reticulate Eagle Ray - Aetomylaeus vespertilio Common Eagle Ray - Myliobatis aquila Australian Eagle Ray - Myliobatis australis Bat Ray - Myliobatis californicus		Chilean Eagle Ray - Myliobatis chilensis Bullnose Ray - Myliobatis freminvillii Southern Eagle Ray - Myliobatis goodei Purple Eagle Ray - Myliobatis hamlyni Longnose Eagle Ray-Myliobatis longirostris Peruvian Eagle Ray - Myliobatis peruvianus New Zealand Eagle Ray-Myliobatis tenuicaudatus Japanese Eagle Ray - Myliobatis tobijei Roughskin Bullray - Pteromylaeus asperrimus Duckbill-Pteromylaeus bovinus

Additional Information

Resource Key
Profile Photos Video Audio

Australian Eagle Ray - Myliobatis australis
The Australian eagle ray is also known as the Australian bull ray. It is only found in the waters off southern Australia.
Source: Florida Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School

Bat Ray - Myliobatis californicus
The bat ray is found in the Pacific ocean from Oregon south to Baja California, Mexico.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Bat Ray - Myliobatis californicus
The bat ray is usually found in shallow water.
Source: Florida Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School

Bullnose Ray - Myliobatis freminvillii
The bullnose ray is found from Cape Cod to the southeastern coast of the Florida off the U.S. It has also been reported in waters off southern Brazil and northern South America as well as in the waters of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
Source: Florida Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School

Common Eagle Ray - Myliobatis aquila
The common eagle ray is found in tropical to warm temperate waters along coastlines in shallow lagoons, bays and estuaries
Source: Florida Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School

Spotted Eagle Ray - Aetobatus narinari
The spotted eagle ray is found in warm temperate and tropical waters around the world.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Spotted Eagle Ray - Aetobatus narinari
The spotted eagle ray gets its name from the white, bluish-white, greenish, pearly, or yellow spots on the upperside of its body.
Source: Florida Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School