Contextual drivers of breaching behaviour in the ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus)

Bridget Nolan; Nicolas Lubitz; Shana Sullivan; Ross G. Dwyer; Marcus Sheaves

doi:10.1071/MF25273

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Contextual drivers of breaching behaviour in the ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus)

Journal article

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Contextual drivers of breaching behaviour in the ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus)

Bridget Nolan, Nicolas Lubitz, Shana Sullivan, Ross G. Dwyer and Marcus Sheaves

Marine & Freshwater Research, Vol.77(6), pp.1-9

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/MF25273

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Abstract

batoid

elasmobranch

irritation

kjumping

predation

predator evasion

spotted eagle-ray

UAV

Context Breaching behaviour, characterised by the temporary propulsion of an aquatic organism out of the water, is widely observed across taxa, including sharks and rays. Yet, because of its spontaneous and infrequent nature, its triggers and adaptive significance remain largely unresolved. Aims To investigate the contexts preceding breaching behaviour in the ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) and infer potential functions. Methods We documented breaching events and preceding contexts by using aerial drone observations supplemented by opportunistic citizen-science footage. Key results Fifteen breaches were recorded, each being preceded by a distinct external stimulus, including interactions with associative fish (e.g. remora, family Echeneidae) or predatory encounters (e.g. approaches by great hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna mokarran). In fish-associated cases, rays often exhibited substrate chafing and pectoral-fin curling before breaching, consistent with escalating irritation or hydrodynamic interference; breaching resulted in separation from the associating fish in all but one case. Predator-associated breaches occurred amid rapid evasive swimming manoeuvres. Conclusions Breaching in A. ocellatus is a flexible, context-dependent behaviour that serves multiple adaptive functions related to associate removal and predator avoidance. Implications Drone observations can resolve rare behavioural events, and further standardised reporting of triggers, breach characteristics and outcomes is needed to determine the full range of functions and drivers of breaching.

Details

Title: Contextual drivers of breaching behaviour in the ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus)
Authors: Bridget Nolan (Corresponding Author) - James Cook University
Nicolas Lubitz - James Cook University
Shana Sullivan - James Cook University
Ross G. Dwyer - University of the Sunshine Coast
Marcus Sheaves - James Cook University
Publication details: Marine & Freshwater Research, Vol.77(6), pp.1-9
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1071/MF25273
ISSN: 1448-6059
Copyright note: © 2026 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Data Availability: Drone videos are provided in the supplementary material, which is available on FigShare (see https://figshare.com/s/3e9e872dfd53262fa25a).
Grant note: This research was supported by James Cook University as part of Bridget Nolan’s Masters of Marine Biology.
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991224894702621
Output Type: Journal article

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