Mobula mobular — Details

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Overview

Brief Summary

Biology

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The gregarious giant devilray tends to move around in groups, swimming close to the surface (2) (5). They apparently make long migrations (2), and show a preference for stretches of ocean traversed by strong currents (5). The giant devilray feeds on plankton and small pelagic fishes (1) (2) (5), which are strained out of the water (4). Their horn-like cephalic fins assist in feeding (5). Giant devilrays are ovoviviparous (2), a method of reproduction in which embryos develop within eggs that remain inside the mother's body until they hatch. The gestation period is long, lasting about 25 months, and results in only one, or rarely two, pups born in summer (2). These newborn devilrays can measure up to an astonishing 180 centimetres in width (2).
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Description

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This immense, graceful ray has large, pointed pectoral fins which enables it to traverse great stretches of ocean with gentle wing-like beats. The upper surface of the giant devilray is dark, whilst beneath it is mostly white (3). Species in the family Mobulidae are the only living vertebrates to possess three pairs of functioning limbs (4); the pectoral fins, pelvic fins and cephalic fins. The cephalic fins, which are situated on the head and point forward and slightly down (3), gave rise to their common name due to their resemblance to devil horns. The mouth is situated on the underside, between the cephalic fins, and at the base of the slender tail is a serrated spine (3) (5).
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Comprehensive Description

Biology

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An epipelagic species (Ref. 6808) found over continental shelves and near oceanic islands (Ref. 6679). Feeds on small pelagic fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 6679). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449).
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Distribution

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Azores Exclusive Economic Zone, European waters (ERMS scope), Greek Exclusive Economic Zone, Israeli part of the Mediterranean Sea - Eastern Basin, Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone
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Eastern Atlantic: off southwest Ireland, Mediterranean Sea and Portugal south to Senegal, including the Canary and Azores islands. Possibly straying into the northwest Atlantic. Reported from India (Ref. 45255).
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Range Description

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The giant devilray occurs in offshore, deep waters and, occasionally, in shallow waters (Bradai and Capapé 2001) throughout the Mediterranean Sea, in waters ranging in depth from few tens of metres to several thousands (with the exception of the northern Adriatic) and possibly in the nearby North Atlantic. Outside the Mediterranean it occurs along the coast of Africa from Morocco to Senegal, the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, Portugal, and as a vagrant, off southern Ireland (Notarbartolo di Sciara 1987). However, since expert examination is needed to distinguish M. mobular from M. japanica, a species known from the tropical Atlantic (Notarbartolo di Sciara 1987), past reports of giant devilrays from the Atlantic may have been due to incorrect identification of spinetail devilrays.
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Mediterranean Sea, eastern Atlantic: Portugal to Senegal; may stray to western North Atlantic and Indian Ocean.
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Range

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Occurs in the Mediterranean and in the eastern Atlantic, from the English Channel south to Senegal, the Azores and the Canary Islands (1).
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Physical Description

Size

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Maximum size: 5200 mm WD
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Max. size

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520 cm WD (male/unsexed; (Ref. 4442))
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Diagnostic Description

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Larger than M. hypostoma, tail with spine and prickles (Ref. 6902).
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Ecology

Habitat

Environment

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pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine
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Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
Like all mobulids, the giant devilray is an epipelagic batoid feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small schooling fishes, which are trapped on its specialised branchial filter plates. In the Mediterranean a likely important prey item for the giant devilray is the euphasiid shrimp Meganyctiphanes norveggica. Mobulids are aplacental viviparous matrotroph rays, in that the pups receive their nourishment from uterine milk secretion (Wourms 1977). They give birth to a single huge pup. A term embryo of M. mobular born from a specimen, caught in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea in late spring 1986 (Notarbartolo di Sciara and Serena, 1988), with a disc 1659 mm wide and a weight of 35 kg is the largest Mobula embryo on record (Notarbartolo di Sciara, 1987). It is not apparent from the literature whether M. mobular has a restricted reproductive season in the Mediterranean. Tortonese (1957) described a rather undeveloped embryo from a female caught in Palermo in September. The observations of Notarbartolo di Sciara and Serena (1988) suggest that in the northern Mediterranean the species gives birth in summer and that the pup could be up to 1,660 mm disc width at birth after 25 months of gestation (Serena 2000).

Systems
  • Marine
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The giant devilray inhabits offshore, deep waters and occasionally can also be found in shallow waters (1).
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Migration

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Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
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Trophic Strategy

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An epipelagic species (Ref. 6808) found over continental shelves and near oceanic islands. Feeds on small pelagic fishes and crustaceans.
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Life History and Behavior

Life Cycle

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Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 6679, 50449).
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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Mobula mobular

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
EN
Endangered

Red List Criteria
A4d

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2006

Assessor/s
Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Serena, F. & Mancusi, C.

Reviewer/s
Fowler, S.L., Valenti, S.V. & participants of the Shark Specialist Group Northeast Atlantic workshop (Shark Red List Authority)

Justification
This huge plankton-feeding ray is the largest of the genus Mobula. It has a very low reproductive capacity (giving birth to a single huge pup at unknown intervals) and its geographic range is probably limited to offshore deepwaters of the Mediterranean (and possibly adjoining North Atlantic waters). It is taken as bycatch on longlines, in swordfish pelagic driftnets, purse seines, trawls and in fixed tuna traps, to unsustainable levels. Given high bycatch mortality, its limited reproductive capacity and range Mobula mobular is listed as Endangered A4d. More research is needed on its exploitation, distribution, biology and ecology. In particular, catch data are required, and stock assessments should be undertaken where the species is fished.

History
  • 2000
    Vulnerable
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Status

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Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List (1).
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Population

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Population
There are no population estimates for the giant devilray. The species appears to live in very low densities throughout its range.

Population Trend
Decreasing
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Threats

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Endangered (EN) (A4d)
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Major Threats
Although there is no direct fishery for giant devilrays, high mortality rates are reported for this species from accidental takes in swordfish pelagic driftnets in the Mediterranean (Muñoz-Chàpuli et al. 1994), to unsustainable levels. Giant devilrays are also accidentally captured in longlines, purse seines, trawls (Bauchot 1987), and fixed traditional tuna traps ?tonnare?. They are also occasionally caught as bycatch in the western central Ligurian Sea, where long line catches have been monitored since 1999, especially from the harbours of Imperia and Sanremo. Devilray bycatch in the Ligurian Sea is always discarded (Orsi Relini et al. 1999).

The extent of influence of Mediterranean habitat degradation on giant devilrays is unknown. Given their low position in the trophic web, high levels of contamination from organochlorine compounds or trace elements are unlikely. However, their epipelagic habits make devilrays particularly vulnerable to oil spills and to disturbance from high levels of maritime traffic.
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Although the giant devilray is not targeted by fisheries, it is accidentally captured at threatening levels, such as by swordfish and tuna fisheries (1) (2). A decline in habitat quality, particularly in the Mediterranean, is also likely to be impacting populations of giant devilray, though to what extent is not known (1). Its preference for inhabiting the surface of the oceans makes the giant devilray vulnerable to disturbance from maritime traffic and oil spills (1).
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
The giant devilray is included in the Annex II ?List of endangered or threatened species? to the Protocol concerning Special Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean of the Barcelona Convention, which came into force in 2001. Recent regional legislation (e.g., GFCM, ICCAT) has introduced new basin-wide banning of pelagic driftnets; if implemented, this would eliminate one of the most severe threats to the species.

Conservation actions recommended for the future are the incorporation of Mobula mobular into the nat. I legislation of the Contracting parties to the SPA Protocol to the Barcelona Convention and the implementation of this policy. The Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary could be an effective for this species against driftnets. Raising awareness with fishermen to maximise the live release of bycatch, after disentanglement, is also important.
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Conservation

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In 2005, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean adopted a measure to ban trawling below 1,000 metres and banned driftnets throughout the Mediterranean (6). This is likely to have substantially reduced the threat of by-catch to the giant devilray in the Mediterranean. Raising awareness with fishermen to maximise the number of giant devilrays that are disentangled and released unharmed after accidental capture has also been recommended as an important measure to protect this magnificent oceanic animal (1).
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Wikipedia

Devil fish

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For other uses of "Devil Fish" or "Devilfish", see Devilfish.

The devil fish or giant devil ray (Mobula mobular) is a species of eagle ray, family Myliobatidae. They are most common in the Mediterranean Sea and can be found elsewhere in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, off the southwest coast of Ireland and south of Portugal.

It is larger than the lesser devil ray, growing to a maximum length of 5.2 metres (17 ft), and it possesses a spiny tail. The species feeds on crustaceans and small schools of fish.

The devil fish has a limited range and a low rate of reproduction. As a result it is sensitive to environmental changes. The main threats to this species come from pollution in the Mediterranean and accidental, unintended capture in various fishing equipment including trawls, tuna traps, and dragnets meant for swordfish, none of which are intended to ensnare Giant Rays. The 2004 IUCN Red List listed the devil fish as a vulnerable species, but in 2006 it was reclassified as an endangered species.

Contents

Habitat [edit]

Mobula mobular

The Devil Ray is known mainly for living in areas such as Algeria, Croatia, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Tunisia, which are its native habitat. It’s known mainly for living in warmer waters and the Mediterranean Sea provides such an environment.

Ecological Role [edit]

The Devil Ray has no definite role in the environment. The closest role that a Devil ray has is eating planktonic crustaceans and small schooling fishes. In its entirety, the Devil Ray acts similar to other species of its kind. According to some sources Devil Rays are flavorsome although, due to their sparse population, Devil Rays cannot be sold for commercial use.

Population and conservation status [edit]

The population of the Devil fish is 400. They can be found mainly in the Mediterranean Sea. The population of the Devil fish is decreasing due to the accidental takes in swordfish pelagic driftnets. They are also accidentally caught by fishermen.

Conservation [edit]

In order to conserve the Devil Ray, awareness of the harm fisherman cause towards Devil Ray needs to rise. Many state legislatures and governments are becoming more aware of this issue and are trying to bring awareness to the public in order to protect the Devil Ray from complete extinction.

References [edit]

[1] [2]

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