Spotted Eagle Ray in Galápagos: Facts and Where to See It

Spotted eagle rays move in groups known as fevers, which range from a few rays to hundreds. They are known for acrobatics, and in the breeding season a male tries to guard a female from rivals. From a panga, a fever often shows as a row of dark shapes gliding just below the surface, the white spots catching the light.

The Galapagos Conservation Trust funds research that identifies individual rays and tracks their movements, to learn what they need at each stage of their lives.

Spotted eagle rays live in warm tropical and subtropical waters around the world, including the nutrient-rich seas around Galápagos. They favour calm coastal water: mangrove lagoons, sheltered bays and shallow sandy channels. The Galapagos Conservation Trust names Elizabeth Bay on Isabela, Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz, and the waters around North Seymour and Española.

Guide sighting records list spotted eagle rays at 5 sites. 3 are rated Possible, where they swim just below the surface: Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz, visited by panga, and the snorkels at Devil's Crown on Floreana and Gardner Bay on Española. Elizabeth Bay and Santa Fé Bay are rated Rare, and the guides note them in open water around the whole archipelago.

The guide records list spotted eagle rays in every month. The Galapagos Conservation Trust names December to May as the best time, when the water is slightly warmer and visibility clearer. In the next twelve months, 796 departures stop at a site where they are seen.

Yes, the Galapagos Conservation Trust lists it as Endangered. Outside the Galápagos Marine Reserve, rays get caught as bycatch in nets and on longlines set for tuna and squid. Microplastics are a possible further threat, as they could interfere with food chains and stunt growth. Park rules keep visitors at least 2 metres (6 feet) from wildlife.

1. Watching only the surface. In mangrove lagoons the rays glide just below it; look for dark shapes with white dots.
2. Skipping the panga ride. Black Turtle Cove, one of the best sites in the records, is visited only by panga.
3. Ignoring the season. Clear water from December to May makes them easier to spot.