Description:

Very large eagle ray with a dark grey to almost black, greyish or reddish-brown dorsal colouration variably white spotted (rarely with ocelli), spots often confined to 
rear of disc. Ventral surface white. Disc very broad, short, angular and entirely smooth. Tail elongate whip-like ~2.1 – 2.5 times DW. Usually 1 or 2 caudal stings 
(rarely up to 5).

Maturity: males at 100-130cm DW, females at ~ 150-160cm DW. Max Length: 300cm DW (880cm TL)

Relatively common inshore, often occurring in schools, also well offshore, depth range 1-100m. Often associated with coral reef ecosystems. Diet consists of hard-shelled 
bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as crabs, crustacea, bivalve molluscs, octopi etc… Often seen digging for prey items buried in the sand. Ovoviviparous, litters usually 
of 1-4 pups (but up to 10 has been recorded) after 12 month gestation. Females thought to produce litters every 2-3 years. 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the net fishery and also by harpoon, though the latter method is increasingly rare.

Bray, D.J. (2017). Aetobatus ocellatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Aug 2018, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2034
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Aetobatus-ocellatus (29/08/18).
Kyne, P.M. et al (2016). Aetobatus ocellatus. The IUCN Red List 2016: e.T42566169A42566212. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T42566169A42566212.en. (29/08/18).
Last, P.R. et al (2016). Rays of the World. CSIRO Publishing ISBN 9781501705328

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Aetobatus ocellatus, Ocellated eagle ray. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/aetobatus-ocellatus-kuhl-1823/ (Edited 29/09/21).