The spotted eagle ray is usually a dark blue or black color with white spots. It has a long, rounded snout, curved corners, a dorsal fin, and a long tail with a poisonous spine at the tip. They can grow up to 3.5 meters wide and 9 meters long and can weigh up to 500 pounds. They are usually found in tropical, coastal waters and live in shallow waters such as a bay or a reef but have been found in deeper waters as well. They swim along the bottom or at the surface and will jump out of the water. Their main food source is bivalves but they will occasionally eat shrimp, crabs, octopus, and small fishes. The spotted eagle ray is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
I saw the spotted eagle ray while snorkeling at the reef at Looe Key. I had just gotten into the water and it swam right under me. Taylor, Chelsea, and I followed it for a little while. It was absolutely beautiful. It was amazing watching it swim through the water. I don't know exactly how big it was but it was big. It was the coolest thing I have ever seen.
References:
http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=58
http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/sharks-rays/ray-species/spotted-eagle-ray/
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