First records of benthic resting behaviour in the Pacific eagle ray Aetobatus laticeps from the eastern Pacific Ocean

Abstract

Species can still surprise us with behaviours not previously documented. The Pacific eagle ray (Aetobatus laticeps) had not been seen exhibiting resting behaviour before, but recently, recreational divers in Costa Rica and Mexico documented three individuals remaining stationary on sandy bottoms. These records suggest that benthic habitats may serve beyond for feeding purposes, and highlight the value of citizen observations to support the study of how marine animals use coastal habitats. Photographs by (a) Michael Graversgaard, (b) Rodolfo Rojas, (c) Aurora Leal.