イトマキエイ

イ

ト

マ

キ

エ

イ

Meanings

noun

spinetail devil ray; Japanese devil ray

usually written using kana alone

A species of ray (Mobula japanica). The name is usually written in katakana as イトマキエイ.

イトマキエイは日本にほん近きん海かいで見みられるエイの一いっ種しゅです。
The spinetail devil ray is a type of ray found in the waters around Japan.
水すい族ぞく館かんでイトマキエイが展てん示じされている。
A spinetail devil ray is on display at the aquarium.

Kanji

糸thread
巻scroll, volume, book
鱝
鱏ray, skate

Related words

マンタ
マンタ (manta) refers to manta rays in general, while イトマキエイ specifically denotes the spinetail devil ray (Mobula japanica).
エイ
エイ is the general term for rays and skates; イトマキエイ is a specific species within that group.

Word family

オニイトマキエイ
giant oceanic manta ray; Manta birostris

Written forms

いとまきえい
Hiragana spelling, also common; usually written in kana.
糸いと巻まき鱝えい
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form using 鱝 (a non-jōyō character for rays); mainly encountered in specialized or older texts.
糸いと巻まき鱏えい
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form using 鱏 (another non-jōyō character for rays); mainly encountered in specialized or older texts.

Etymology

The name イトマキエイ literally means 'thread-spool ray', likely from the shape of the cephalic fins or body outline. The exact origin of the name is uncertain.