Myliobatis aquila
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_eagle_ray
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Common Eagle Ray faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive fishing pressure across the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic. This large ray is particularly vulnerable to bottom trawling and gillnet fisheries due to its benthic feeding habits and coastal distribution. Bycatch mortality in commercial fisheries targeting other species represents the most significant threat, as these rays are often discarded dead or dying.
Habitat
Myliobatis aquila inhabits coastal waters, sandy and muddy bottoms, and seagrass beds from the surface to depths of 200 meters. The species prefers temperate and subtropical waters of the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic, often found in shallow bays and estuaries where it feeds on benthic invertebrates.
