Sunday 11th September 2016
Its exciting times on Koh Tao, our marine life has seen some new additions recently. The most recent has been the spotted eagle ray. Seen at King Kong and Shark Island. While they have been seen around Koh Tao before it’s always nice to have a few hanging around again
This ray can be identified by its dark dorsal surface covered in white spots or rings. Near the base of the rays’ relatively long tail, just behind the pelvic fins, are several venomous, barbed stingers. Spotted eagle rays commonly feed on small fish and crustaceans, and will sometimes dig with their snouts to look for food buried in the sand of the sea bed. The spotted eagle ray is hunted by a wide variety of sharks. They are now sadly considered near threatened on the IUCN Red List. They are fished mainly in Southeast Asia and Africa, the most common market being in commercial trade and aquariums.
Now all we need is the reef sharks back at Chumphon Pinnacle and to throw in a few Mantas to spice it up a little.
