Disc blue or black above with numerous white spots or
rings, white below. Maximum width at least 2.3 m and
reputedly to 4 m, maximum weight over 200 kg, S.A. angling record = 98 kg. Circum tropical in coastal waters south
to Algoa Bay. Extremely agile and powerful, often leaping
high into the air. Eats mainly bivalves, also shrimp, crabs,
octopi and worms. A strong fighter when hooked, often
breaking or stripping line; edible but not often eaten.
Genus Myliobatis Cuvier, 1816
Several species, 1 in the area.
Eagleray
28.2 My/iobatis aquila
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE.5
Arendrog
Raja aquila Linnaeus, 1758: 232 (Mediterranean). Myliobatis aquila:
Smith, SFSA No. 76; Wallace, 1967: 17*; van der Elst, 1981: 50*.
Myliobatis cervus Smith, 1934: 169, Fig. 1 (Knysna); SFSA No. 75*; Smith
& Smith, 1966: 30*; Hulley: 1972: 2*; 1973: 129.
Median tooth plates transverse in lower jaw. Nasal curtain not notched.
V broad.
Disc chocolate-brown to black above, white below, no
prominent markings. Maximum width about 150 cm.
Mediterranean and East Atlantic around the Cape to Natal.
Coastal, readily entering shallow lagoons and estuaries,
strong-swimming and occasionally leaping out of the water.
Eats bivalves, crabs, mole crabs and small fish. Good sport
for anglers, excellent eating.
28.2 Myliobatis aquila: 36 em wide (Algoa Bay).
28: MYLIOBA TIDAE (EAGLERA YS)
Genus Pteromylaeus Garman, 1913
Three species, 1 in our area.
Sullray
28.3 Pteromylaeus bovinus
(Saint-Hilaire, 1817)
Sulrog
Myliobatis bovina Saint-Hilaire, 1817: Fig. 1, PI. 26; 1827: 323 (Egypt,
Mediterranean). Pteromylaeus bovinus: Smith, SFSA No. 77*; Wallace,
1967: 20'; van der Elst, 1981: 51'. ? Aetomylus huletti Smith, 1961: 513,
No. 77a (Zululand).
Tooth plates usually 7 in each jaw, median series much larger than
others; 5 papillae on floor of mouth. V narrow.
Disc brown above, with pale blue-grey crossbars visible
when fish is excited or injured. Maximum width about 175
cm, weight at least 83 kg. Tropical and warm-temperate
eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean; southwestern Cape to
Zanzibar. Apparently absent from cold water off the western Cape coast and Namibia. Eats fish, crabs, bivalves and
squid; occasionally leaps from the water. Often hooked by
shore anglers, fights gamely; excellent eating.
28.3 Pteromylaeus bovinus: 21 em wide (Natal).
Genus Rhinoptera Cuvier, 1829
Several species, 1 in our area.
28.4 Rhinoptera javanica
Mulier & Henle, 1841
Flapnose ray
Flapneus-rog
Rhinoptera javanica Muller & Henle, 1841: 182, PI. 58 (Java); Smith,
1952: 1020; 1961: 504, No. 77a*; Wallace, 1967: 23*; Hulley, 1972: 2*.
Normally 7 rows ofteeth in each jaw, but varying up to 11110. Apices of
disc strongly falcate; tail about length of disc.
133
rings, white below. Maximum width at least 2.3 m and
reputedly to 4 m, maximum weight over 200 kg, S.A. angling record = 98 kg. Circum tropical in coastal waters south
to Algoa Bay. Extremely agile and powerful, often leaping
high into the air. Eats mainly bivalves, also shrimp, crabs,
octopi and worms. A strong fighter when hooked, often
breaking or stripping line; edible but not often eaten.
Genus Myliobatis Cuvier, 1816
Several species, 1 in the area.
Eagleray
28.2 My/iobatis aquila
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE.5
Arendrog
Raja aquila Linnaeus, 1758: 232 (Mediterranean). Myliobatis aquila:
Smith, SFSA No. 76; Wallace, 1967: 17*; van der Elst, 1981: 50*.
Myliobatis cervus Smith, 1934: 169, Fig. 1 (Knysna); SFSA No. 75*; Smith
& Smith, 1966: 30*; Hulley: 1972: 2*; 1973: 129.
Median tooth plates transverse in lower jaw. Nasal curtain not notched.
V broad.
Disc chocolate-brown to black above, white below, no
prominent markings. Maximum width about 150 cm.
Mediterranean and East Atlantic around the Cape to Natal.
Coastal, readily entering shallow lagoons and estuaries,
strong-swimming and occasionally leaping out of the water.
Eats bivalves, crabs, mole crabs and small fish. Good sport
for anglers, excellent eating.
28.2 Myliobatis aquila: 36 em wide (Algoa Bay).
28: MYLIOBA TIDAE (EAGLERA YS)
Genus Pteromylaeus Garman, 1913
Three species, 1 in our area.
Sullray
28.3 Pteromylaeus bovinus
(Saint-Hilaire, 1817)
Sulrog
Myliobatis bovina Saint-Hilaire, 1817: Fig. 1, PI. 26; 1827: 323 (Egypt,
Mediterranean). Pteromylaeus bovinus: Smith, SFSA No. 77*; Wallace,
1967: 20'; van der Elst, 1981: 51'. ? Aetomylus huletti Smith, 1961: 513,
No. 77a (Zululand).
Tooth plates usually 7 in each jaw, median series much larger than
others; 5 papillae on floor of mouth. V narrow.
Disc brown above, with pale blue-grey crossbars visible
when fish is excited or injured. Maximum width about 175
cm, weight at least 83 kg. Tropical and warm-temperate
eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean; southwestern Cape to
Zanzibar. Apparently absent from cold water off the western Cape coast and Namibia. Eats fish, crabs, bivalves and
squid; occasionally leaps from the water. Often hooked by
shore anglers, fights gamely; excellent eating.
28.3 Pteromylaeus bovinus: 21 em wide (Natal).
Genus Rhinoptera Cuvier, 1829
Several species, 1 in our area.
28.4 Rhinoptera javanica
Mulier & Henle, 1841
Flapnose ray
Flapneus-rog
Rhinoptera javanica Muller & Henle, 1841: 182, PI. 58 (Java); Smith,
1952: 1020; 1961: 504, No. 77a*; Wallace, 1967: 23*; Hulley, 1972: 2*.
Normally 7 rows ofteeth in each jaw, but varying up to 11110. Apices of
disc strongly falcate; tail about length of disc.
133