Mobula eregoodoo | fishIDER

Elasmobranchii Mobulidae Mobula eregoodoo

Longhorned pygmy devil ray

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Dorsal surface blackish to dark brown, fading after death; sides of head and ventral surface mostly white, a distinctive black blotch present on the ventral side, midway of the leading edge of pectoral fins.

Size:

Up to 130 cm DW, born at about 43 cm DW.

Distribution:

Indo-West pacific in tropical and subtropical waters.

Habitat:

Found offshore and in shallow coastal waters.

Biology:

Feed primarily on schooling baitfish. Males are mature at 95 cm DW and feamles by 280 cm DW. Gestation lasts at least 10–12 months.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught as bycatch of the gillnet fisheries targeting skipjack tuna. Utilised for its gill filter plates (very high value), meat, cartilage and skin.

Similar species:

Mobula kuhlii
Lesser devilray

Mobula kuhlii differs in having no dark blotch present midway along the anterior margin on the ventral surface of the pectoral fin (vs. a distinctive dark blotch present).

to Mobula kuhlii

External links:

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM