🌊 Mottled Eagle Ray (Aetomylaeus maculatus) – The Spotted Glider of Tropical Waters

The Mottled Eagle Ray (Aetomylaeus maculatus) is an elegant and rarely observed species of eagle ray found in tropical Indo-West Pacific waters. Its beauty lies in its distinct spotted body, graceful wing-like fins, and its role as a key predator in coastal marine ecosystems. Let’s explore this majestic marine ray in terms of taxonomy, morphology, habitat, adaptations, and its presence in the Sundarbans.

📚 Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Class: Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes)

• Order: Myliobatiformes

• Family: Myliobatidae

• Genus: Aetomylaeus

• Species: Aetomylaeus maculatus

🔍 Morphology & Identification

• Disc Width: Can reach up to 78 cm, with total length exceeding 1.5 meters in some specimens.

• Coloration: Characterized by white or cream-colored spots scattered across a dark brown or grey dorsal surface.

• Body Shape:

  • Flattened, disc-shaped body with wing-like pectoral fins.

  • Long, whip-like tail which may have 1–2 venomous spines near its base.

  • Broad, rounded snout with ventral mouth.

• Eyes: Located on top of the head; spiracles behind the eyes help in respiration while buried in sand.

🌊 Habitat & Distribution

• Found in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and sandy lagoons of the Indo-West Pacific region, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.

• Prefers sandy or muddy bottoms where it can bury itself to rest or ambush prey.

• Known to swim in small groups or alone, often near coral reefs or estuarine areas.

🌟 Special Features & Adaptations

1. 🐚 Crushing Jaws: Equipped with flat, plate-like teeth for crushing hard-shelled prey like mollusks, crabs, and clams.

2. 🌀 Bottom Feeder: Uses electroreception to detect hidden prey beneath the sediment.

3. 🪁 Graceful Swimmer: Propels itself with its wing-like fins in a graceful, undulating motion, giving it a bird-like appearance in the water.

4. 🧬 Ovoviviparous Reproduction: Females retain eggs inside the body until the young are ready to hatch and be born live.

5. 🌪 Camouflage: The mottled skin pattern helps it blend with the sandy seabed, avoiding predators.

🌿 Presence in the Sundarbans

Though not as commonly sighted as other species, the Mottled Eagle Ray is occasionally found in the deeper and saltier estuarine zones of the Sundarbans.

• Likely spotted in areas closer to the Bay of Bengal, where salinity levels are higher.

• They play a key ecological role in maintaining balance among benthic (bottom-dwelling) prey species.

• Threats in Sundarbans:

  • Bycatch in bottom-trawling nets.

  • Habitat degradation due to siltation and pollution.

  • Overfishing of benthic prey, reducing their natural food sources.

Their presence reflects the rich biodiversity and ecological complexity of the Sundarban marine fringe zones.

⚠️ Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Endangered

• Threats: Habitat destruction, overfishing, and lack of specific conservation measures.

• Need for Action: The species remains understudied and rarely monitored, making awareness and protection crucial.

The Mottled Eagle Ray is a graceful and ecologically vital inhabitant of tropical coastal waters, including the eastern fringe of the Sundarbans. Its presence, though rare, is a testament to the estuarine health and marine diversity of the region. Conservation and sustainable fishing practices are essential to protect such mysterious and mesmerizing marine life.

📌 Credit Note

🐾 Want to explore the coastal beauty and rare biodiversity of the Sundarbans in style? Book a Sundarban private tour package or indulge in a premium Sundarban luxury tour experience designed for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers.

🚤 For a broader journey through the mangroves and estuaries, visit Sundarban tour to discover customized packages.

🐟 Celebrate Bengal’s iconic fish during the Sundarban Hilsa Festival 2025, a seasonal delight of taste and tradition – also known as Sundarban ilish utsav!

To learn more about this species, check out the Wikipedia page on Mottled Eagle Ray.