FEATURE CREATURE
FEATURE CREATURE
OCELLATED EAGLE RAY ( AETOBATUS OCELLATUS) FEATURE IUCN RED LIST 2016 PHOTOGRAPHY PHILIPPE LECOMTE
RED LIST CATEGORY & CRITERIA: VULNERABLE Scientific Name: Aetobatus ocellatus Synonym(s): Aetobatus guttatus (Shaw, 1804), Myliobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823) Common Names: Spotted Eagle Ray, Ocellated Eagle Ray, Sharpwing Eagle Ray, Spotted Duckbill Ray TAXONOMIC NOTES Aetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1923) was previously considered to be an Indo-West and Central Pacific form of the wider ranging Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen, 1790). Comparative analysis of the morphology, molecular and parasite diversity has resulted in the redescription of A. ocellatus from tropical and warm-temperate waters of the Indian Ocean and West-Central Pacific Ocean with A. narinari being restricted to the Atlantic Ocean (Richards et al. 2009, White et al. 2010). Molecular analyses suggest greater levels of speciation within the Aetobatus genus, with distinguishable groups in the Western Indian Ocean and Northwest Pacific (Schluessel et al. 2010, White et al. 18
DIVERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT | SEPTEMBER 2020
2010). This requires further examination to delineate species boundaries. JUSTIFICATION The Ocellated Eagle Ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) has recently been re-described as a separate species from the White-spotted Eagle Ray (A. narinari). This is a large eagle ray with a widespread distribution across the Indo-Pacific in tropical and warm-temperate waters. Recorded over the continental shelf from the surface to 60 m depth in coastal and open ocean environments. It sometimes enters lagoons and estuaries and is often associated with coral reef ecosystems. The Ocellated Eagle Ray is recorded from landing sites across much of its range, particularly within Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. It is susceptible to capture from a variety of fishing gear and its range overlaps with areas of intense and generally unregulated fisheries in coastal and offshore environments. Estuarine habitats in which it occurs are affected by development and pollution across parts of its range.
The Ocellated Eagle Ray has low population rebound potential with low fecundity (1-4 pups per litter); long gestation period (12 months) and possibly 2-3 years between pregnancies; late maturation (five years), and an approximate 12-year generation period. Molecular studies demonstrate considerable population structuring for this eagle ray within the Indo-Pacific region, suggesting limited recruitment to exploited populations. Based on inferred population declines of >30% across much of its range, with ongoing threats due to largely unregulated fishing pressure and habitat degradation and destruction, the Ocellated Eagle Ray has a global assessment of Vulnerable. In Australian and Oceania waters (Pacific Island nations) where there is limited fishing pressure and some conservation measures in place through the use of marine reserves, this species is assessed as Least Concern. GEOGRAPHIC RANGE Australia (Coral Sea Is. Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia); Bahrain; Bangladesh; Brunei
