Understanding Spotted Eagle Rays

With their graceful polka-dotted wings, eagle rays are found in all the tropical oceans of the world, but only recently has it been realized that they reproduce in the coastal waters of Florida. In partnership with the Shark Research group at Mote Marine Laboratory, Georgia Aquarium staff will study the population size, make-up and movements near Sarasota, to build vital knowledge about these poorly understood but beautiful creatures.

Animal Fun Fact

The spotted eagle ray will use its broad, pointed snout to probe the substrate for its bottom-dwelling prey.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Support Sharks & Rays Research

When you buy from our gift shop, a portion of the proceeds from your purchase allows us to continue with our groundbreaking research initiatives, educational programs and conservation efforts.

Learn About Other Animals We're Helping

    bird

    Tufted Puffin

    Puffins, like guillemots and murres, belong to a group of seabirds known as auks, or alcids. Puffins and other alcids are well...

    Read More
    invertebrate

    Coral – Soft

    All species of soft coral have eight tentacles which provide defense, capture food and clean debris. Nematocysts, or stinging cells, in the...

    Read More
    fish

    Spotted Garden Eel

    The spotted garden eel lives in a sandy burrow that it digs tail-first. The garden eel then coats the sand walls with...

    Read More