Aetomylaeus caeruleofasciatus White, Last & Baje, 2015
Blue-banded eagle ray

Family:  Myliobatidae (Eagle and manta rays)
Max. size:  59.1 cm WD (male/unsexed); 59.2 cm WD (female)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 10 - 117 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.
Diagnosis:  This small species of Aetomylaeus (reaching about 59.0 cm DW) is distinguisehd by the following set of characters: dorsal surface greenish to yellowish brown with a series of 7 transverse pale bluish bands which is sometimes faint; no dark spots or blotches; whitish ventral surface; usually the pectoral fins are not dusky distally; the tail is rather long (1.5-1.8 times DW); without stinging spine; head is short and narrow; fleshy rostral lobe, relatively broad, short, and with a rounded apex; teeth in 7 rows in each jaw, and with a broad median row flanked by 3 smaller rows on each side; dorsal-fin origin at level with pelvic-fin insertions; 84-88 pectoral-fin radials (excluding concealed propterygial radials anterior of eyes); 80- 86 total vertebral centra (including synarcual); 14 or 15 pelvic radials (excluding clasper) in males; 20 or 21 pelvic radials in females (Ref. 103981). Description: This species and A. nichofii differ from their congeners in having a dorsal pattern of 7-8 transverse pale blue bands; disc of adult female of this species is longer compared to adult female of A. nichofii (Ref. 103981).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 October 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Type locality of Aetomylaeus caeruleofasciatus, bay south of Eagle Point anchorage, Western Australia. Also known from the Northern Territory to Queensland, including the Arafura Sea (Ref. 103981).


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.