The spotted eagle ray is named after its distinct beak-like snout and dark back covered with contrasting white spots.
The spotted eagle ray can grow to be over 2.7 meters (9 feet) wide and over 2.4 meters (8 feet) long — even reaching lengths over 4.9 meters (16 feet) when including their long, whip-like tail! It was once thought to be the same species as the ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus), but research revealed that they are actually two separate species, with spotted eagle rays confined to the Atlantic Ocean while ocellated eagle rays live in the Indo-West and Central Pacific.
Spotted eagle rays are often seen gliding around coral reefs and are also known to enter bays, lagoons, and estuaries. They have dramatic wing-like pectoral fins that they flap to propel themselves, in a way that makes it look like they are ″flying″ through the water. This species is known to leap out of the water to evade predators like the silvertip shark and the great hammerhead. As foraging predators, they are known to use their shovel-shaped snout to search the seafloor for a variety of prey — ranging from crustaceans and mollusks to fish and even octopuses.