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Eagle rays live close to the coast in depths of 1 to 30 m (3 to 98 ft) and in exceptional cases, they are found as deep as 300 m (980 ft). The eagle ray is most commonly seen cruising along sandy beaches in very shallow waters, its two wings sometimes breaking the surface and giving the impression of two sharks traveling together.
Recent authorities have restricted it to the Atlantic (including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico) with other populations recognized as the ocellated eagle ray (A. ocellatus) and Pacific white-spotted eagle ray (A. laticeps). Spotted eagle rays are most commonly seen alone, but occasionally swim in groups.
A diversity of stingray fossils is known from the Eocene Monte Bolca formation from Italy, including the early stingaree Arechia, as well as Dasyomyliobatis, which is thought to represent a transitional form between stingrays and eagle rays, and the highly unusual Lessiniabatis, which had an extremely short and slender tail with no sting. [6] [7]
Both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths. They are classified among the Myliobatiformes (stingrays and relatives) and are placed in the family Myliobatidae (eagle rays). They have the largest brain-to-body ratio of all fish, and can pass the mirror test.
The common eagle ray was found to have lower mercury concentrations (0.67-1.01 mg/kg) than Chimaera monstrosa or Torpedo nobiliana. This is likely due to its diet as both the other two species feed on higher trophic levels (compared to the invertebrates that make up this eagle ray's diet).
For over a hundred million years, the stingray has roamed the world's oceans as an almost mythological animal: extraordinarily graceful, yet potentially lethal.
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They have a generation length of 15 years, and can grow as old as 24 years. Although Aetomylaeus vespertilio was once common, they are now considered rare in areas such as the Gulf of Thailand. The largest threats they encounter are demersal fisheries [ 3 ] , which are used frequently in the areas they live in.