Welcome to the information and research database for the spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari). The aim of this website is to provide a comprehensive source of information about this species and to outline current scientific research being carried out in the Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies.
Venture on a dive or snorkel around the Turks & Caicos islands and
you may be treated to an encounter with a spotted eagle ray or two
gracefully flying through the water. They are distinguished from other ray species by the
beautiful and intricate patterns covering their dorsal surface which are unique (like a 'fingerprint') to every individual. There are very few other places
in the world where you may be privileged enough to see eagle rays schooling in
such large numbers and in such accessible locations. For this reason the populations
we have here are truly unique and special.
Although so commonly seen, they remain a mystery to scientists with very little documentation available about their life histories or behaviors. This is one of the reasons a monitoring program was established by scientists at the School for Field Studies (www.fieldstudies.org) in South Caicos in April 2009. The project has been a great success with the establishment of a further monitoring program in Providenciales.
Images are also currently being collected from Grand Turk and Saba, Netherland Antilles. See 'get involved' to introduce monitoring of populations in your area!
