Moorea's waters are home for two distinct types of rays: the stingrays and the spotted eagle rays. These creatures, with their unique characteristics and behaviours, can be seen mostly in the passes and inside the lagoon.
Stingrays
Stingrays, known for their friendly demeanour, are often encountered around the sandy shallows near motu Tiahura, where the acclaimed Coco Beach invites visitors into enjoy food and drinks close to the water. These rays are distinguished by their flat bodies and long, slender tails, which harbour a barb that can deliver a defensive sting. Despite this, they are known to be quite gregarious around humans, often curiously approaching snorkelers and divers. Their behaviour has made them one of the highlights for anyone exploring the lagoon's shallow waters.
Stingrays are equipped with electroreceptors so they can detect the electrical charges emitted by their prey, which often includes molluscs and crustaceans buried in the sand. This adaptation makes them formidable hunters. In Moorea, they contribute to the ecological balance, ensuring the health of the benthic community by keeping invertebrate populations in check.
Eagle rays
In contrast to the sociable stingray, the spotted eagle ray is a marvel of grace and elegance, known for its polka-dotted skin and wing-like fins that can span up to 2.5 meters wide. They are more commonly observed in the lagoon's depths. A school of eagle rays, often seen near the lagoon's bottom, presents an unforgettable sight as they search for bivalves and crustaceans. These rays possess a beak-like mouth that enables them to crush hard-shelled prey, a testament to their evolutionary prowess.
Spotted eagle rays possess a highly developed sense of vision, which, coupled with their elevated vantage point as they glide through the water, allows them to effectively scan for food. Their spotted patterns are unique to each individual, making them one of the more easily identified species to the delight of researchers and enthusiasts alike.
These rays' presence in Moorea's lagoon and occasionally on the ocean side is a testament to the area's rich biodiversity. When observed in their natural habitat, their behaviour offers a window into the complexity of marine ecosystems. The sight of a school of spotted eagle rays in a coordinated hunt, or a stingray engaging with visitors, is not only a spectacle but also an educational experience that underscores the importance of conservation.
The ability to observe these rays up close, whether by diving or snorkelling, is contingent on the calm and respectful behaviour of the humans who enter their domain.