Spotted eagle rays, Aetobatus narinari,  grow to at least  16ft in length, max wingspan up to 10ft and weigh up to 507lbs. The spotted eagle ray has a long snout, flat and rounded like a duck's bill, a thick head, and a pectoral disc with sharply curved, angular corners, and no caudal fin; jaws usually with single row of flat, chevron-shaped teeth. Each tooth is a crescent-shaped plate joined into a band. They usually have numerous white spots on black or bluish disc; with white below. Long whip-like tail, with a long spine near the base, behind small dorsal fin.

Habitat
Spotted eagle rays are commonly found in shallow inshore waters such as bays and coral reefs but may cross oceanic basins. They sometimes enters estuaries. They swim close to the surface, occasionally leaping out of the water, or close to the bottom. They frequently form large schools during the non-breeding season. 

Feeding and Diet
Spotted eagle rays feed mainly on bivalves but also eats shrimps, crabs, octopus and worms, whelks, and small fishes. The spotted eagle ray's specialized chevron-shaped tooth structure helps it to crush the mollusks' hard shells.

Behavior 
spotted eagle rays prefer to swim in waters 75 to 81 °F. Their daily movement is influenced by the tides; one tracking study showed that they are more active during high tides. he pelvic thrust is usually performed by a solitary ray, and repeated four to five times rapidly. The extreme pelvic thrust is most commonly observed when the ray is swimming in a group, from which it will separate itself before vigorously thrusting with its pectoral fins. The rays also performs dips and jumps; in a dip the ray will dive and then come back up rapidly, perhaps as many as five times consecutively. There are two main types of jump: in one, the ray propels itself vertically out of the water, to which it returns along the same line; the other is when the ray leaps at a 45 degree angle, often repeated multiple times at high speeds. When in shallow waters or outside their normal swimming areas the rays are most commonly seen alone, but they do also congregate in schools

Conservation
In the state of Florida, the fishing, landing, purchasing and trading of spotted eagle ray is outlawed. 

Mangroves are various types of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics. Mangroves serve very important functions in the ecology of South Florida. Mangroves have a high ecological role as nursery grounds and as a physical habitat for a wide variety of vertebrates and invertebrates. They recycle nutrients and the nutrient mass balance of estuarine ecosystems. Mangrove leaves, wood, roots, and detrital material provide essential food chain resources, and provide habitat for many wildlife including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods. Mangroves have a special ecological function for endangered species, threatened species, and species of special concern. They also serve as storm buffers; their roots stabilize shorelines and fine substrates, reducing potential turbidity and enhancing water clarity. One of the greatest values of mangroves swamps in Florida is their aesthetic appeal. Mangrove plants require a number of physiological adaptations to overcome the problems of anoxia, high salinity and frequent tidal inundation. Each species has its own solutions to these problems; this may be the primary reason why, on some shorelines, mangrove tree species show distinct zonation. Small environmental variations within a mangal may lead to greatly differing methods for coping with the environment. Therefore, the mix of species is partly determined by the tolerances of individual species to physical conditions, such as tidal inundation and salinity, but may also be influenced by other factors, such as predation of plant seedlings by crabs.Mangrove swamps protect coastal areas from erosion, storm surge (especially during hurricanes).

Red Mangrove (rhizophora mangle)
 Also called the "walking tree," can be identified by their characteristic  aerial prop roots.  Growing closet to the water's edge, their massive root systems provide shelter to a variety of marine life. The red mangrove is often found seaward of the other species and grows in frequently flooded areas. These roots are an adaption to saltwater environment. The tree can take in oxygen directly from the surrounding air. The roots also provide the tree additional support to remain upright in the muddy substrate. The leaves are shiny, thick, leathery and dark green. Red mangrove fruits germinate on the parent tree to form long, pencil shaped propagules which act as seedlings. These seedlings are denominated viviparous. Flowering in spring and summer, although it can occur throughout the year. Although usually shorter than other types, the red mangrove tree may reach up to 50 feet in height.

Black Mangrove (avicennia germinanas)
Black mangroves are often found in close association with red mangroves and seem to grow in the most salt-rich soils.  On the ground around the black mangroves one can find numerous pneumatophores which extend upwards above the mud from the submerged root system. Pneumatophores are essentially the erect lateral branches of an otherwise horizontal root system. They serve the same aerating purpose as the prop roots of the red mangrove. The leaves of the black mangrove are narrow and oblong, dark green above and silver-green underneath. The black mangrove can grow as tall as 60 feet.

White Mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa)
White mangroves usually grow on higher land, landward of red and black mangroves. They are often found in association with black mangroves. Contrary to the other two species, the white mangrove does not develop prop roots or pneumatophores. The most identifyable characteristic of the white magrove are the leaves. The leaves are thicker and more oval than those of the red and black mangrove, and they are uniform pale green on both surfaces. On either side of the stem one can see two small glands on each leaf. The white mangrove grows as a tree or shrub and can reach a height of 50 meters or more.