Diet and reproduction in the white-spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari from Queensland, Australia and the Penghu Islands, Taiwan

Schluessel, V., Bennett, M. B. and Collin, S. P. (2010) Diet and reproduction in the white-spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari from Queensland, Australia and the Penghu Islands, Taiwan. Marine and Freshwater Research, 61 11: 1278-1289.


Author Schluessel, V.
Bennett, M. B.
Collin, S. P.
Title Diet and reproduction in the white-spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari from Queensland, Australia and the Penghu Islands, Taiwan
Formatted title Diet and reproduction in the white-spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari from Queensland, Australia and the Penghu Islands, Taiwan
Journal name Marine and Freshwater Research  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2010-10-16
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1071/MF09261
Volume number 61
Issue number 11
ISSN 1323-1650
1448-6059
Start page 1278
End page 1289
Total pages 12
Place of publication Collingwood, VIC., Australia
Publisher C S I R O Publishing
Collection year 2011
Language eng
Formatted abstract Aetobatus narinari, a circumglobal batoid, is subjected to increasing fishing pressures, especially throughout South-east Asia. However, its management and protection is complicated by the lack of relevant life history information. It appears to be a late-maturing, long-lived stingray with a size-at-maturity of ∼130 and 150cm in ventral disc width for males and females respectively. Like other myliobatids, A. narinari is a matrotrophic viviparous species exhibiting lipid histotrophy as indicated by trophonemata. Only the left ovary and uterus are functional. The presence of mature sperm in the testes, collecting ducts, epididymis and ductus deferens coincided with the estimated time of parturition and mating. Catches indicated an unbiased sex ratio. Aetobatus narinari is a hard-prey specialist that feeds mainly on gastropods, molluscs and hermit crabs (Diogenidae). Molluscs comprised numerically and gravimetrically the most important prey group (Index of Relative Importance (IRI): 85.9% in Australia, 99.9% in Taiwan) and were observed in 83.3% and 100% of stomachs containing food from Australia and Taiwan respectively. Minor dietary shifts from a gastropodcrustacean to a more gastropodbivalve based diet occurred as body size increased. This study provides vital biological data for the effective management and conservation of A. narinari. © CSIRO 2010.
Keyword Chondrichthyes
Ecology
Elasmobranch
Life history
Stingray
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2011 Collection
School of Biomedical Sciences Publications
 
Versions
Version Filter Type
Citation counts: TR Web of Science Citation Count  Cited 5 times in Thomson Reuters Web of Science Article | Citations
Scopus Citation Count Cited 5 times in Scopus Article | Citations
Google Scholar Search Google Scholar
Access Statistics: 178 Abstract Views  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Sun, 05 Dec 2010, 00:05:35 EST