Kasaragod: A rare, giant spotted eagle ray was caught by fishermen on the Kasaragod coast. It was later sold for a whopping Rs 10,000.

The fish which weighed 70 kg was dragged to the beach at Chittary by the fishermen.

The fishermen who ventured into the sea as usual didn't expect such a rare catch. They were led by veteran fisherman Narayanan.

Spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) is a cartilaginous fish of the eagle ray family. It is rarely found in the seas off Kerala.

This variety of stingray is found globally in tropical seas, including the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Eagle ray is named so as its protruding head appear like that of the eagle-.

Spotted eagle ray is noted for the dark dorsal surface covered in white spots or rings.

Common types of stingrays include the Eagle Ray, Blue Spotted Ray, and the Southern Stingray. Stingrays are famed for the ability to detect tiny electric currents radiating from creatures including shrimp and small fish.

As reported earlier several exotic fish species, which were imported by private parties in Kerala, had escaped from aquafarms during the 2018 deluge. They include 'dangerous' varieties such as alligator gar, arapaima, arowana, African catsh, common carp, giant gourami, grass carp, kissing gourami, coy carp, goldsh, shark catsh, red-bellied pacu, sailn, tilapia and three-spot gourami. They have been spotted in the state’s rivers and other water bodies.