Mobula

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Mobula
Temporal range: 34–0  Ma
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O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Early Oligocene to present [1]
Mobula breaching.jpg
Mobula sp. breaching, Baja California
CITES Appendix II
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Mobulidae
Genus: Mobula
Rafinesque, 1810
Type species
Raja mobular
Bonnaterre, 1788

Mobula is a genus of rays in the family Mobulidae that is found worldwide in tropical and warm, temperate seas. [2] Some authorities consider this to be a subfamily of the Myliobatidae (eagle rays). [3] [4] Species of this genus are often collectively referred to as "devil rays", "flying mobula", or simply "flying rays", due to their propensity for breaching, sometimes in a spectacular manner. These rays gather in groups and leap out of the surface into the air up to around 2 m (6 ft 7 in) before splashing back into the water. [5]

Contents

The genus includes the giant manta rays (traditionally in their own genus Manta), M. alfredi , M. birostris , and M. yarae , which are the largest rays. [2] [6]

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Mobula rays "vortex feeding"

Description

Depending on the species, the devil rays can attain widths up to 1.1–5.2 m (3.6–17.1 ft), the largest being second only to the manta rays in size, which can reach 5.5–7.0 m (18.0–23.0 ft). [2] Despite their size, little is known about the devil rays, much of it anecdotal; the manta rays are better known.

Most species entirely lack a tail stinger. In most species having a stinger, it is encased, rendering it harmless; only M. mobular has a "free" stinger. [2]

Taxonomy

The genus was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1810 describing the devil fish, Raia mobular or now Mobula mobular. The name can be explained from Latin mobilis "mobile" or "movable", because of the species' migratory habits; [7] [8] another explanation is that mobula is a local name used by people living in Azores, who call this creature there. [7]

Based on genetics, and to a lesser degree, morphological evidence, the genus was redefined in 2017. Under this arrangement, Manta is included in Mobula. [2]

Species

M. yarae with a diver near Paraiso, Mexico Mobula yarae and diver, by Arturo Benavides.jpg
M. yarae with a diver near Paraíso, Mexico

FishBase recognizes 11 species: [4]

Extinct species by Shark-References: [9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Chondrichthyes entry)". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 White; Corrigan; Yang; Henderson; Bazinet; Swofford; Naylor (2017). "Phylogeny of the manta and devilrays (Chondrichthyes: mobulidae), with an updated taxonomic arrangement for the family". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 182: 50–75. doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx018 .
  3. ↑ Nelson, J.S. (2006). Fishes of the World (4 ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
  4. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Mobula". FishBase . July 2017 version.
  5. ↑ Pavid, Katie (n.d.). "The spectacular display of the mobula ray". Natural History Museum. The Trustees of The Natural History Museum, London. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. 1 2 Bucair, Nayara; Hinojosa-Alvarez, Silvia; Marshall, Andrea Denise; Pate, Jessica; Francini, Carlo Leopoldo Bezerra; Garrido, Amana Guedes; Capel, Katia Cristina Cruz; Loboda, Thiago Silva; Monteiro, Jhonatas Sirino; Bruno, Carlos Eduardo Malavasi; Vaga, Claudia Francesca; Dove, Alistair D. M.; Hoopes, Lisa A.; Perry, Cameron; Kitahara, Marcelo V. (2025-07-23). "An integrative taxonomy investigation unravels a cryptic species of Mobula Rafinesque, 1810 (Mobulidae, Myliobatiformes), from the Atlantic Ocean". Environmental Biology of Fishes . doi:10.1007/s10641-025-01727-2. ISSN   0378-1909.
  7. 1 2 Scharpf, Christopher (22 July 2022). "Family MOBULIDAE" (PDF). The ETYFish Project. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  8. ↑ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879). "mōbĭlis". A Latin Dictionary. Perseus Digital Library.
  9. ↑ "Extinct - valid species". Shark-References. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
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