Habitat
Spotted eagle rays can be found in warm, temperate, waters worldwide in shallow coastal water near coral reefs and bays. They live in depths of up to 80 meters, however they can sometimes be spotted in estuaries. They spend much of their time swimming freely in open waters, generally in schools close to the surface, occasionally leaping out the water, and can travel long distances in a day.In Australia they are most commonly found from Shark Bay, Western Australia to Sydney, New South Wales.
Spotted eagle rays can be found on the bottom or the top of the ocean,they occasionally leap out the water
Diet
The A.narinari’s main prey are clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, shrimps, crabs, whelks, and other molluscs and crustaceans. They also occasionally feed on shrimp, octopi and small fish. .
The eagle ray will use its adapted snout to dig up sand on the bottom of the ocean to search for its prey. When it has found food, it will use its strong jaw muscles to move its hard, chevron shaped crushing plates to crush any shells on its food to get the flesh out. It will then swallow the soft flesh.
The eagle ray will use its adapted snout to dig up sand on the bottom of the ocean to search for its prey. When it has found food, it will use its strong jaw muscles to move its hard, chevron shaped crushing plates to crush any shells on its food to get the flesh out. It will then swallow the soft flesh.
The jaw of the A. narinari showing the chevron shaped crushing plates.