Japanese eagle ray

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Japanese eagle ray
TobiEIesa.jpg
Japanese eagle ray (Myliobatis tobijei)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Myliobatidae
Genus: Myliobatis
Species:
M. tobijei
Binomial name
Myliobatis tobijei
Bleeker, 1854
Synonyms
  • Mobula tobijei
  • Myliobatis tobije [2]

The Japanese eagle ray (Myliobatis tobijei), also known as the cowhead eagle ray or kite ray [3] is a ray species in the family Myliobatidae. [4]

Contents

Description

The Japanese eagle ray grows to be up to 150 centimeters long, and has a disc at least 114 centimeters wide. [1] It is yellow-brown in color, and usually contains darker spots. It has rather long stinging spines, and its claspers are less than one-tenth the width of its disc. Each jaw of the species contains 7 rows of teeth. [3]

Behavior

The Japanese eagle ray is demersal, usually inhabiting sea floors and feeding on benthic animals. [3] [5] In particular, it is known to eat crustaceans, fish, and sometimes benthic plants. Like all mylobatids, the species is ovoviviparous. Embryos initially feed on yolk. They later receive nourishment by indirectly absorbing uterine fluid from their mother. Little else is known about the biology of this species. [1] [3]

Distribution, threats, and conservation

The Japanese eagle ray lives in the waters of East Asia, particularly in Japan, Korea, and China. It is also found in Indonesia and the Philippines. [2] It is a tropical marine species, and lives in depths of over 220 meters. [1]

The species is sometimes caught as a bycatch. It is also sometimes caught intentionally for its meat, as well as for its cartilage. [2] Little else is known about its population and threats. There are currently no conservation measures taking place for this species, and it is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN. [1]

Parasites

The Japanese eagle ray is the host of the following parasitic species: [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle ray</span> Family of cartilaginous fishes

The eagle rays are a group of cartilaginous fishes in the family Myliobatidae, consisting mostly of large species living in the open ocean rather than on the sea bottom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bat ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The bat ray is an eagle ray found in muddy or sandy sloughs, estuaries and bays, kelp beds and rocky-bottomed shoreline in the eastern Pacific Ocean, between the Oregon coast and the Gulf of California. It is also found in the area around the Galápagos Islands. The largest specimens can grow to a wingspan of 1.8 m and a mass of 91 kg (201 lb). They more typically range from 9.07–13.61 kg (20.0–30.0 lb). The size of the bat ray is dependent on many factors, such as habitat alterations, different oceanographic and environmental conditions. Bat rays have one to three venomous barbed spines at the base of its tail. Some bat rays are solitary while others form schools numbering in the thousands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urolophidae</span> Family of cartilaginous fishes

The Urolophidae are a family of rays in the order Myliobatiformes, commonly known as stingarees or round stingrays. This family formerly included the genera Urobatis and Urotrygon of the Americas, which are presently recognized as forming their own family Urotrygonidae. Stingarees are found in the Indo-Pacific region, with the greatest diversity off Australia. They are sluggish, bottom-dwelling fish that have been recorded from shallow waters close to shore to deep waters over the upper continental slope. Measuring between 15 and 80 cm long, these rays have oval to diamond-shaped pectoral fin discs and relatively short tails that terminate in leaf-shaped caudal fins, and may also have small dorsal fins and lateral skin folds. Most are smooth-skinned, and some have ornate dorsal color patterns.

<i>Myliobatis</i> Genus of cartilaginous fishes

Myliobatis is a genus of eagle rays in the family Myliobatidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand eagle ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The New Zealand eagle ray or Australian eagle ray is an eagle ray of the family Myliobatidae, found in bays, estuaries, and near rocky reefs around New Zealand and southern Australia on the inner continental shelf. It is a common species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thorntail stingray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The thorntail stingray, black stingray, or longtail stingray is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It is found off southern Africa, Australia, and New Zealand from the intertidal zone to a depth of 440 m (1,440 ft). This bottom-dweller inhabits soft-bottomed habitats such as lagoons, estuaries, and reefs. Growing to 1.8 m (5.9 ft) across and over 200 kg (440 lb) in weight, the thorntail stingray is among the largest stingrays in the world. Uniformly dark above and light below, it has a diamond-shaped pectoral fin disc and a very long, whip-like tail with a fin fold underneath. The upper surface of the disc and the tail bear numerous stout, sharp thorns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round ribbontail ray</span> Species of stingray

The round ribbontail ray is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, found throughout the nearshore waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific, as well as off islands in the eastern Pacific. It is a bottom-dwelling inhabitant of lagoons, estuaries, and reefs, generally at a depth of 20–60 m (66–197 ft). Reaching 1.8 m (5.9 ft) across, this large ray is characterized by a thick, rounded pectoral fin disc covered by small tubercles on top, and a relatively short tail bearing a deep ventral fin fold. In addition, it has a variable but distinctive light and dark mottled pattern on its upper surface, and a black tail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant freshwater stingray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The giant freshwater stingray is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It is found in large rivers and estuaries in Southeast Asia and Borneo, though historically it may have been more widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia. The largest freshwater fish and the largest stingray in the world, this species grows up to 2.2 m (7.2 ft) across and can reach up to 300 kg (660 lb) in weight. It has a relatively thin, oval pectoral fin disc that is widest anteriorly, and a sharply pointed snout with a protruding tip. Its tail is thin and whip-like, and lacks fin folds. This species is uniformly grayish brown above and white below; the underside of the pectoral and pelvic fins bear distinctive wide, dark bands on their posterior margins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted eagle ray</span> Species of fish

The spotted eagle ray is a cartilaginous fish of the eagle ray family, Myliobatidae. As traditionally recognized, it is found globally in tropical regions, including the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Recent authorities have restricted it to the Atlantic with other populations recognized as the ocellated eagle ray and Pacific white-spotted eagle ray. Spotted eagle rays are most commonly seen alone, but occasionally swim in groups. They are ovoviviparous, the female retaining the eggs then releasing the young as miniature versions of the parent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longheaded eagle ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The longheaded eagle ray is a species of eagle ray in the family Myliobatidae. The longheaded eagle ray, like other members of the genus Aetobatus, is characteristically different from other genera of eagle rays, distinguished by their notched nasal curtain; complete, singular set of upper and lower teeth; and v-shaped teeth in the lower jaw. It is found in the tropical and warm temperate Indo-West Pacific. It formerly included populations in the northwest Pacific, but these were recognized as a separate species, Aetobatus narutobiei, in 2013. Longheaded eagle rays are benthopelagic fishes that feed on crustaceans, cephalopods, echinoderms, and small bony fishes. It is a poorly known species, but generally uncommon and considered endangered by the IUCN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornate eagle ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The ornate eagle ray or reticulate eagle ray is a species of large stingray of the family Myliobatidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple eagle ray</span> Species of fish

The purple eagle ray is a species of fish in the family Myliobatidae. It was formerly considered endemic to Australia but is now known to be more widespread. Its natural habitat is the open seas where it has a patchy distribution, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "near-threatened".

The longnose eagle ray or snouted eagle ray is a species of fish in the family Myliobatidae. It is found in the East Pacific Ocean from Baja California and the Gulf of California to Sechura, Peru, ranging from shallow water to a depth of 64 m (210 ft). This species was first described in 1964 by the American ichthyologist Shelton Pleasants Applegate, who was an expert on fossil and living sharks, and by American marine biologist John Edgar Fitch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peruvian eagle ray</span> Species of fish

The Peruvian eagle ray is a species of fish in the family Myliobatidae. It is found in the Pacific Ocean off Chile and Peru. It can be differentiated from the similar Chilean eagle ray by color and rostral fin form. The ray has not been extensively studied, and is ranked as Data Deficient by the IUCN. It has been recorded only in the open ocean, but is considered likely to be a benthic feeder. It is thought by scientists to be similar to other myliobatids in terms of biology, habits, and threats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alligator pipefish</span> Species of fish

The alligator pipefish or double-ended pipefish is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae and is the only species in the monotypic genus Syngnathoides. It is found in shallow water in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, its range extending from East Africa to northern Australia. This fish lives in habitats of seagrass and seaweed, and hides by positioning itself vertically with its head down amidst the similar-coloured fronds of vegetation. The elongated, well-camouflaged body can reach 29 cm (11 in) in length. It feeds by sucking up its prey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honeycomb whipray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The honeycomb whipray is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, found widely in the shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific from India to the Malay Archipelago. This large species grows to 1.3 m (4.3 ft) across and has a diamond-shaped disc with rounded corners and a projecting, pointed snout. Its tail is long and whip-like, without fin folds. Adults have a striking dorsal color pattern consisting of large, dark brown rings and reticulations delineated by thin yellow lines, while juveniles have a pattern of large dark spots. This ray can also be distinguished from its similar relatives by an enlarged, pearl-like dermal denticle at the center of the back, which is followed by a few thorns. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the honeycomb whipray as endangered, as it faces heavy fishing pressure and habitat degradation across much of its range.

<i>Cantherhines pardalis</i> Species of fish

Cantherhines pardalis is a species of fish in the family Monacanthidae, the filefishes. Common names include honeycomb filefish, honeycomb leatherjacket, and wire-netting filefish. It is native to the Indian Ocean, the eastern Atlantic, and the western Pacific, except for the seas around Hawaii, where it is replaced by Cantherhines sandwichiensis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common eagle ray</span> Species of fish

The common eagle ray is a species of fish in the family Myliobatidae. It inhabits the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the south-western Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern eagle ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The Southern eagle ray, sometimes known as the Southern eagle fish or the rockfish, is a ray species in the family Myliobatidae. It lives in waters just off of the Atlantic coast, from the tip of Florida down to Argentina, inhabiting estuaries or bays to give birth during spring and summer and migrating to the open sea in autumn and winter. It has an average width of 99 centimeters, and a length of 60 centimeters. It is often confused with the bullnose ray, a related species in the genus Myliobatis, due to the two species' similarities in appearance.

<i>Lobocheilos schwanenfeldii</i>

Lobocheilos schwanenfeldii is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish within the family Cyprinidae, that can grow up to a length of 33.5 centimeters. Its distribution is in Indonesia within the Sumatra, Java and Borneo islands in tropical river basins. It is a benthic fish, living in slow to fast moving clear waters over gravel and rocky substrates. Its believed to feed on diatoms, filamentous algae, pieces of larger plants, and sand grains, similar to other members of its genus.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rigby, C.L.; Walls, R.H.L.; Derrick, D.; Dyldin, Y.V.; Herman, K.; Ishihara, H.; Jeong, C.-H.; Semba, Y.; Tanaka, S.; Volvenko, I.V.; Yamaguchi, A. (2021). "Myliobatis tobijei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T161357A124471213. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T161357A124471213.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Synonyms of Myliobatis tobijei Bleeker, 1854". FishBase . Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Myliobatis tobijei". Shark-References. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  4. Froese, R.; Pauly, D. "Myliobatis tobijei Bleeker, 1854". WoRMS . Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  5. Luna, Susan M. "Myliobatis tobijei, Japanese eagle ray". FishBase . Retrieved 10 August 2018.