Mobulidae | fishIDER

Characteristic features:

Keys:

Key to species of Mobulidae

1. Mouth terminal on head (Fig. 1a) 2
2. Mouth subterminal on ventral surface of head (Fig. 1b) 3
1. Calcified mass containing an embedded spine present behind dorsal fin (Fig. 2a); anterior margin of white shoulder patches running parallel with front of head (Fig. 3a); a large black, semicircular spot emanating from both of the fifth gill slits Mobula birostris
2. No calcified mass or spine present behind dorsal fin (Fig. 2b); anterior margin of white shoulder patches curving posteriorly and not parallel with front of head (Fig. 3b); a small black, semicircular spot emanating from both of the fifth gill slits Mobula alfredi
1. Spiracles long, slit-like and dorsal to the plane of the pectoral fins (Fig. 4a); large species reaching well over 200 cm DW 4
2. Spiracles small, subcircular and ventral to the plane of the pectoral fins (Fig. 4b); small species, not reaching 200 cm DW and mostly less than 130 cm DW 5
1. Pectoral fins strongly falcate (Fig. 5a); a strong bony ridge present along dorsal midline (Fig. 6a); no caudal spine present; disc greyish, dorsal fin plain (Fig. 7a) Mobula tarapacana
2. Pectoral fins moderately falcate (Fig. 5b); bony ridge on dorsal midline weak (Fig. 6b); a serrated caudal spine usually present behind dorsal fin (Fig. 8); disc blackish, dorsal fin with prominent white tip (Fig. 7b) Mobula mobular
1. Anterior margin of pectoral fins with a double curvature (hence common name of Bentfin Devilray) (Fig. 9a); base of tail depressed; dorsal coloration bluish black; dorsal fin with a prominent white tip; attains about 190 cm DW Mobula thurstoni
2. Anterior margin of pectoral fins straight or slightly convex (Fig. 9b); base of tail quadrangular; dorsal coloration greyish brown; dorsal fin with or without a white tip; attains about 135 cm DW Mobula kuhlii

Species:

Mobula alfredi Reef manta ray

Mobula birostris Giant manta ray

Mobula eregoodoo Longhorned pygmy devil ray

Mobula kuhlii Lesser devilray

Mobula mobular Japanese devilray, giant devilray

Mobula tarapacana Sicklefin Devilray

Mobula thurstoni Bentfin devilray