Rare Eagle Ray Leaps from Water in Astonishing Eilat Sighting

A rare and remarkable encounter occurred off the northern coast of Eilat when photographer Ruslan Rabin was swimming and filmed an "eagle ray" (also known as a "devil fish" or "sea bat") leaping out of the water. Rabin captured the astonishing moment, which was later shared by the Shark Observatory of Israel. The eagle ray, identified as a "spotted eagle ray" (Aetobatus ocellatus), is a relative of sharks and is characterized by its distinctive spotted pattern.

According to the Shark Observatory, the spotted eagle ray inhabits shallow coastal waters and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, including the Red Sea. They typically feed on small fish and invertebrates. While they can be caught intentionally or as bycatch in fishing, the species is not considered dangerous to humans, despite the presence of venomous barbs at the base of their tails.

The spotted eagle ray's global distribution spans from Australia to South Africa. They prefer shallow waters up to approximately 40 meters deep, often found near coral reefs and sandy bottoms. They have also been observed in estuaries, mangrove forests, and occasionally in open water.