Latin name

Aetomylaeus maculatus

Other names

Aetomylaeus maculatus

Identification

The characteristic shape of the triangular flat snout, formed by the fused anterior edges of the pectoral fins, resembles a duck's nose. The head is broad and elongated. The whip-shaped tail is nearly 6 times as long as the disc. Behind the eyes there are splayed eyes. There are 5 pairs of gill slits, mouth and nostrils on the ventral surface of the disc. There are no spines on the dorsal surface of the tail. 

Features of fish fins

The pectoral fins of these rays fuse with the head to form a diamond-shaped flattened disk, wider than long, with the edges of the fins pointed. 

Fish colouring

The dorsal surface of the disc is grayish or brown with light spots arranged in transverse rows. The ventral surface of the disc is white. 

Distribution

They inhabit the coastal waters of the eastern Indian Ocean and the northwestern and western Pacific Ocean off the coasts of China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand. 

Habitat

A tropical marine species that prefers brackish waters. These stingrays are found on the outer part of the continental shelf at depths of up to 60 meters. They prefer soft bottoms.

Size

The maximum registered length is 200 cm.

Behavior

They live in mangroves in creeks and sheltered sandy channels. Mottled eagle ray are active swimmers and travel long distances. 

Food and feeding habits

They feed on crustaceans and mollusks.

Reproduction

They belong to the order of oviparous fishes. Embryos develop in the womb and feed on egg yolk and histotrophs. There are up to 4 newborns in a litter. Males and females reach sexual maturity at a disc width of 71 cm (a male with a disc width of 55 cm was immature). 

Fishing

They are not targeted, but are caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries using trawls, gillnets, and triangular nets that operate throughout their range. 

Relationship with a person

In Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan, their meat is found on the market and eaten.