Aetobatus

Aetobatus
Temporal range: 59–0 Ma Thanetian to Present
Aetobatus ocellatus in Fiji
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Aetobatidae
Genus: Aetobatus
Blainville, 1816

Aetobatus (from Ancient Greek ἀετός (aetós), meaning "eagle", and βάτος (bátos), meaning "ray") is a genus of eagle rays native to the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. It was formerly placed in Myliobatidae, but is now placed in its own family Aetobatidae based on salient differences from myliobatids, especially the pectoral fins joining the head at the level of the eyes.

Description

This genus is diagnosed by a large adult size, which is around 3 m (9.8 ft) wide and largely consisting of a wing-like rhomboidal "disc" (pectoral fins). The trunk is broad, depressed, and thick. The head protrudes forward anteriorly, is narrow, and elevated above the disc, which connects with the head at the level of the eyes. The spiracles are located dorsally and angles towards the sides. The mouth is broad, located ventrally, contains a single tooth plate row, and is surrounded by sensory pores and papillae. The internasal flap possesses a deep "V" shaped notch. A single dorsal fin arises near the base of the very long whip-like tail, which is armed by one or more stinging barbs.

There are currently either 3 or 5 recognized extant species in this genus depending on the status of A. narinari:

ImageCommon nameScientific nameDistribution
Long-headed eagle rayAetobatus flagellum (Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)Indo-West Pacific
Pacific white-spotted eagle rayAetobatus laticeps (T. N. Gill, 1865)Baja California to northern Peru, including the Galápagos
Spotted eagle rayAetobatus narinari (Euphrasén, 1790)Atlantic (including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico); worldwide if A. ocellatus and A. laticeps are considered subspecies
Naru eagle rayAetobatus narutobiei W. T. White, Furumitsu, A. Yamaguchi, 2013northwest Pacific off south Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam
Ocellated eagle rayAetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823)Indo-West Pacific

There are also 6 extinct species (only known from fossil remains) placed in this genus:

Cladogram based on a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree using a General Time Reversible (GTR+I+G) model based on an alignment of mitochondrial NADH2 sequences (1044 sites):

Dasyatis spp.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sepkoski, J. (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Chondrichthyes entry)". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Archived from the original on 2012-05-10.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Aetobatus". FishBase. October 2015 version.
  3. 1 2 3 "Resurrection of the family Aetobatidae (Myliobatiformes) for the pelagic eagle rays, genus Aetobatus". Zootaxa. 4139 (3): 435–438. 21 July 2016. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4139.3.10.
  4. ↑ White, W.T. & Moore, A.B.M. (2013). "Redescription of Aetobatus flagellum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), an endangered eagle ray (Myliobatoidea: Myliobatidae) from the Indo–West Pacific" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3752 (1): 199–213. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3752.1.12. PMID 25229115.
  5. ↑ White, W.T. (2014): A revised generic arrangement for the eagle ray family Myliobatidae, with definitions for the valid genera. Zootaxa, 3860 (2): 149–166.
  6. ↑ White, W.T., Furumitsu, K. & Yamaguchi, A. (2013): A New Species of Eagle Ray Aetobatus narutobiei from the Northwest Pacific: An Example of the Critical Role Taxonomy Plays in Fisheries and Ecological Sciences. PLoS ONE, 8 (12): e83785.
  7. ↑ White, W.T.; Last, P.R.; Naylor, G.J.P.; Jensen, K. & Caira, J.N. (2010). "Clarification of Aetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823) as a valid species, and a comparison with Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen, 1790) (Rajiformes: Myliobatidae). In: Last, P.R., White, W.T. & Pogonoski, J.J (Eds.), Descriptions of New Sharks and Rays from Borneo" (PDF). CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research. Paper 032: 141–164. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2015-07-28.