Eagle ray (Myliobatidae)

General data

Main name: Eagle ray

Classification

Order: Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
Class: Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays
Superclass: Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes

Description

The eagle rays are a group of cartilaginous fishes in the family Myliobatidae, consisting mostly of large species living in the open ocean rather than on the sea bottom. Eagle rays feed on mollusks and crustaceans, crushing their shells with their flattened teeth. They are excellent swimmers and are able to breach the water up to several metres above the surface. Compared with other rays, they have long tails, and well-defined, rhomboidal bodies. They are ovoviviparous, giving birth to up to six young at a time. They range from 0.48 to 5.1 m (1.6 to 16.7 ft) in length and 7 m (23 ft) in wingspan.

Genera

Myliobatis

Aetomylaeus

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
- Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays->
  - Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks->
  - Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks->
  - Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays->
  - Torpediniformes - Electric rays->
  - Rajiformes - Skates and rays->
  - Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark->
  - Squatiniformes - Angelsharks->
  - Heterodontiformes - Bullhead and horn sharks->
  - Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks->
  - Myliobatiformes - Stingrays->
    
    Dasyatidae - Stingrays->
    
    Mobulidae - Manta rays->
    
    Potamotrygonidae - Southamerican freshwater stingrays->
    
    Gymnuridae - Butterfly rays->
    
    Myliobatidae - Eagle ray->
    
    Urotrygonidae - American round stingrays->
    
    Aetobatidae - Pacific eagle rays->
    
    Hexatrygonidae - Sixgill stingrays->
    
    Plesiobatidae - Deepwater stingrays->
    
    Rhinopteridae - Cownose rays->
    
    Urolophidae - Round rays->
    
    Zanobatidae - Panrays->
  - Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks->
  - Echinorhiniformes - Bramble sharks->
  - Pristiophoriformes - Saw sharks->
- Holocephali - Chimaeras->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->