Ornate eagle ray

The ornate eagle ray or reticulate eagle ray (Aetomylaeus vespertilio) is a species of large stingray of the family Myliobatidae. Like other rays, the ornate eagle ray is ovoviviparous. Aetomylaeus vespertilio are estimated to have a low fecundity similar to other myliobatids. They have a generation length of 15 years, and can grow as old as 24 years. They are a predatory cartilaginous fish, preying mostly on small invertebrates, polychaete worms, and some echinoderms. They have earned the nickname "unicorn of the sea" due to how rarely they are spotted in the wild.

Ornate eagle ray
Photo of a rarely seen ornate eagle ray (Aetomylaeus vespertilio), taken at Landaa Giraavaru, Baa Atoll, Maldives (February 2018).
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Order:	Myliobatiformes
Family:	Myliobatidae
Genus:	Aetomylaeus
Species:	A. vespertilio
Binomial name
Aetomylaeus vespertilio (Bleeker, 1852)

Appearance

Aetomylaeus vespertilio has a maximum size of around 240 cm in disc width and a clearly distinct pattern of reticulate dark lines and rings on its back. If the extremely long tail is unbroken, it can considerably add to the maximum body length of 4m. Lacking a spine on the tail, it is deemed harmless to humans.

Distribution

Aetomylaeus vespertilio can be spotted up to 110 meters deep along the coasts of Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Palau, Philippines, Seychelles, South Africa, Taiwan, and Thailand. Despite the wide range it can be spotted at, it is rarely observed, and has been suspected to have had a large population decline within the past three generations. Currently, this species is considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN.^[1] There have been fewer than 60 confirmed sightings of Aetomylaeus vespertilio, giving it the nickname 'the unicorn of the sea.'^[2]

Threats and Conservation Efforts

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. When caught, they are mostly retained and sold in fish markets. No species-specific conservation measures have taken place, but there are more regulations being placed on demersal fisheries to limit the amount of Myliobatidae being caught.^[4]