Aetobatus flagellum

(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Vernacular names

English : Longheaded eagle ray
French : Raie-aigle à long museau

Classification

Class : Elasmobranchii
Order : Myliobatiformes
Family : Myliobatidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification

Maximum recorded body length is 72 cm but there are probably bigger specimens. Wing-shaped fins, very long tail. Triangular and elongated nose. Back coloration gray without any white spots. Clear belly.

Range and habitat

Indian Ocean from Red Sea to Maldives, India and eastwards to south China. The species is mostly found in brackish waters and near coastal areas.

Conservation

IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is highly endangered because of destruction of its habitat and because of overfishing, especially around Java.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation