Lesser devil ray

Lesser devil ray
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Elasmobranchii
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Mobulidae
Genus: Mobula
Species: M. hypostoma
Binomial name
Mobula hypostoma
(Bancroft, 1831)
Synonyms
  • Cephalopterus hypostomus[1]
  • Cephaloptera massenoidea[2]
  • Cephaloptera olfersii
  • Ceratobatis robertsi
  • Ceratobatic robertsii
  • Mobula olfersii
  • Mobula reobertsi

The lesser devil ray (Mobula hypostoma) is a ray in the family Mobulidae. They occur along the coasts of the western Atlantic, from North Carolina to northern Argentina.[1]

These rays live in shallow waters and can be found singly or in large shoals. They feed on crustaceans mostly, but will sometimes feed on shoals of smaller fish. Lesser devil rays are relatively small, with a maximum width of about 120 cm (47 in). They have smaller cephalic fins than their larger manta cousins and have longer spineless tails.

The lesser devil ray has tasty flesh to some and can be a source of oil. They are known to swim at very high speeds and leap out of the water, often a great distance.

References

  1. 1 2 Bizzarro, J.; Smith, W.; Baum, J.; Domingo, A. & Menni, R. (2009). "Mobula hypostoma". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2009: e.T161737A5492018. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T161737A5492018.en. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Boonstra, Roxane. "Atlantic devil ray". Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  • "Mobula hypostoma". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 18 April 2006.
  • Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). "Mobula hypostoma" in FishBase. February 2006 version.
  • C. R. Robins & G. C. Ray (1986). A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
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