We have been seeing a lot of spotted eagle rays lately. Our friend Linda Scarpuzza took this short video up a small bay known as Slaughterhouse near Honolua Bay. Early Hawaiians had only two words to describe the nine members of the ray family found in Hawaiian waters: lupe, meaning kite and hihimanu, meaning magnificent, lavish, or elegant. Both words describe one of the most beautiful and graceful of all rays - the spotted eagle ray. With a maximum wing span of six feet from tip to tip, a long whip-like tail, and a dramatic topside color pattern of white spots splashed across a dark background, the spotted eagle ray inspires wonder and fascination. Its pure white underside is etched with a mazelike pattern that flashes enticingly as it glides through the water and sometimes soars into the air - its wing motions mimicking an eagles. Though not classified as a stingray, the spotted eagle ray does possess one or more venomous spines located at the tail base. Hawaiis three species of true stingrays carry their spines further down the length of the tail. The spotted eagle ray also has a thick head with a long, fleshy snout reminiscent of a ducks bill that it uses to dig up its preferred foods - clams and oysters - hiding in the sand on the ocean floor. Any sand drawn in through its spiracles (respiratory openings near the eyes) will be expelled through two pairs of five gill slits each, located on the underside of its body. Hawaiis spotted eagle rays are born during the months of October, November, and December, following a gestation period of 11-12 months. Pearl Harbor and Kaneohe Bay on Oahu, and the leeward side of Molokai, are documented birthing areas, while mating rays can be observed in near shore waters off any island in the chain. The smaller male will court the female by biting the trailing edge of her wing, then assume a belly-to-belly position and insert a single clasper (male reproductive organ) into the females cloaca (female reproductive organ). The mating act lasts approximately a minute. One to four pups make up a litter. Embryos develop in the females left uterus where her uterine milk nourishes them. During the birthing process, the female may leap out of the water and expel the pups in mid-air. Born with wings folded bat-like around their bodies, the pups must quickly unfold their 10-12 inch wide wings to evade sharks, their main predators. The pups reach maturity in 4 to 6 years. They are social animals and often swim in groups. Divers thrill to the sight of spotted eagle rays flying through the water in perfectly synchronized formation. They can sometimes be seen from shore, their flapping wing tips breaking the surface, and have been known to launch themselves skyward and cartwheel through the air, end over end. The flesh of the spotted eagle ray is edible, but of marginal appeal. Hawaiian women were once forbidden to eat it. Danger from these docile rays is minimal - unless one reaches out to grab a tail, as fishermen sometimes do when freeing them from a net or longline. Spine punctures are painful and can cause medical complications. When removed from the water, the spotted eagle ray may emit loud, frantic noises. Never chase or try to ride a ray of any kind. The best advice is to respect their space and enjoy them from a distance.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 18:01:56 +0000
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