Japanese eagle ray
Japanese eagle ray (Myliobatis tobijei)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
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]

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]

  • Caulobothrium tobijei
  • Raphidascaroides myliobatum
  • Mawsonascaris myliobatum

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.
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