Rumble Viral

Spotted Eagle Rays Glide on Strong Current in the Galapagos Islands

Spotted eagle rays are beautiful stingrays with very distinctive heads and ornate markings. For any scuba diver or snorkeler, they are a treat to see in the ocean. Usually shy and reclusive, watching one gliding past closely is a rare sight. These eagle rays seemed to be unconcerned with nearby scuba divers who kept a respectful distance and watched them in action. Eagle rays use their electro sensory organs in their snout to detect crustaceans and mollusks buried beneath the sand and rocks. They inhale the animals and the sand and then expel the sand out through their gills. They are capable of crushing thick shells in their mouth in order to get at the creature within. Eagle rays are highly intelligent, and occasionally curious about humans who approach slowly or wait patiently for the eagle ray to approach. These rays are drifting on the current with ease as they manage the current that surrounds Wolf Island in the Galapagos. One of the rays has a distinctive wing injury that makes it easily recognizable. It has been seen in these waters for several years, swimming gracefully on the strong currents that flow through the islands.