Work

Diet of the Common Eagle Ray, Myliobatis aquila (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Northern Adriatic Sea

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We studied the feeding habits of the common eagle ray (Myliobatis aquila) in the shallow northern Adriatic Sea. Altogether we analysed the contents of 122 stomachs of specimens caught as by-catch in the Gulf of Trieste and along the west Istrian coast. Shelled molluscs (N% = 75.17), mainly bivalves and gastropods, were the most prominent prey categories, while crustaceans, sipunculids, echinoderms and polychaets (N% < 10) represented considerably smaller numbers. With increasing size (and age) the eagle rays tend to become more experienced in preying molluscs and specialized to this prey category. The obtained results are in general in agreement with the limited existing reports on the diet of the common eagle ray in the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent areas.

Source: Fishes

DOI: 10.3390/fishes10070311

Authors: Lovrenc Lipej, Riccardo Battistella, Borut Mavrič, Danijel Ivajnšič

Institutions: National Institute of Biology, University of Verona, University of Maribor

Language: English

Topic: Ichthyology and Marine Biology

Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137