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Bull ray (Aetomylaeus bovinus) — Myliobatidae

Bull ray

Aetomylaeus bovinus
Family: Myliobatidae
CR · Critically Endangered

The Bull ray (Aetomylaeus bovinus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Myliobatidae that grows up to 222 cm.

Length
222 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
10.0–150.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The bull ray is a large eagle ray of the family Myliobatidae with a wingspan exceeding two metres in females. The species has a long, rounded snout reminiscent of a duck's bill and large, wing-like pectoral fins with which it 'flies' gracefully through the water. The back is light brown with a few pale blue-grey cross-stripes, the underside white. Unlike many related rays the bull ray lacks a venomous tail sting. It lives in coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, between 10 and 150 m, eating bottom crustaceans and shellfish. Heavy fishing pressure has left the species assessed as Critically Endangered.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bull ray?

The Bull ray has an irregular in shape body, is mainly brown and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Bull ray live?

The Bull ray lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Bull ray get?

The Bull ray grows to a maximum of about 222 cm. On average the species is around 150 cm.

Is the Bull ray dangerous to humans?

No, the Bull ray is harmless to humans.

Is the Bull ray edible?

The Bull ray is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Koeneusrog verified
English name
Bull ray verified
Scientific name
Aetomylaeus bovinus
Family
Myliobatidae
Other names
Bull ray; Bullray; Duckbill; Duckbill ray; Eagle ray verified

Appearance

Max length (cm)
222.0 verified
Average length (cm)
150.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
150.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Small groups verified
Territorial
No verified
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten verified
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Aetomylaeus

More from the family Myliobatidae

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