Family MYLIOBATIDAE
Cownose Rays, Devil Rays, Devilrays, Eagle Rays
Compiler and date details
10 January 2020 - Douglass F. Hoese, Gerald R. Allen, Norbert J. Cross & Dianne J. Bray
16 May 2011 - Douglass F. Hoese, Gerald R. Allen, Norbert J. Cross & Dianne J. Bray
Introduction
The Myliobatidae, as currently recognised (White & Last 2016) contains 18 species in two genera, widely distributed in all tropical and temperate seas; a few species are also restricted to cold water. The Australian fauna is represented by two genera and four species. Some workers recognised a large family with three subfamilies including the Myliobatinae, Rhinoterinae and Mobulinae (Nelson et al 2016). The Mobulidae and Rhinopteridae were treated as separate families by Last & Stevens (2009) and Compagno & Last (1999). Previously these groups were treated as subfamiilies of the Myliobatidae (Nelson 1994, 2006; Hoese et al. 2006). The genus Aetobatus was recently separated into the family Aetobatidae (White & Naylor 2016). The Australian eagle rays were treated briefly and illustrated by Munro (1956), and in more detail by Last & Stevens (1994, 2009).
The largest eagle and cow-nosed rays have a width ('wingspan') of up to 3 m. The pavement-like teeth of some genera are used for crushing molluscs, crustaceans and other benthic invertebrates. These rays usually occur on inshore reefs or in estuaries over sand or mud bottoms, sometimes in the vicinity of coral reefs. Manta rays, in contrast, dwell in surface oceanic waters, but are sometimes encountered in near inshore reefs where they are seen alone, in pairs, or in small groups. Their diet consists of plankton, their reproduction is ovoviviparous.
General References
Compagno, L.J.V. & Last, P.R. 1999. Families Gymnuridae, Myliobatidae, Rhinopteridae, Mobulidae. pp. 1505-1529 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068.
Munro, I.S.R. 1956. Handbook of Australian fishes. No. 4. Fisheries Newsletter. Australia 15(10): 15-18 figs 117-147
Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.
Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.
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
White, W.T. & Last, P.R. 2016. Families Myliobatidae, Aetobatidae. pp. 706-731 in Last, P.R., White, W.T., Carvalho, M.R. de, Séret, B., Stehmann, M.F.W. & Naylor, G.J.P. (eds.). Rays of the World. Clayton South, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 790 pp.
White, W.T. & Naylor, G.J.P. 2016. Resurrection of the family Aetobatidae (Myliobatiformes) for the pelagic eagle rays, genus Aetobatus. Zootaxa 4139(3): 435–438
Common Name References
Compagno, L.J.V. & Last, P.R. 1999. Families Gymnuridae, Myliobatidae, Rhinopteridae, Mobulidae. pp. 1505-1529 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1511] (FAO; Myliobatidinae) (Devil Rays, Eagle Rays)
Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. [459] (as Mobulidae) (Cownose Rays, Devilrays, Eagle Rays)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05-Jun-2024 | MYLIOBATIFORMES | 10-Jan-2020 | MODIFIED | Dr Doug Hoese Dr Matthew Lockett |
| 16-Apr-2012 | 16-Jul-2015 | MODIFIED | ||
| 16-Mar-2010 | MODIFIED |