Mobula
Mobula is a genus of rays in the family Mobulidae that is found worldwide in tropical and warm, temperate seas. Some authorities consider this to be a subfamily of the Myliobatidae. 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 before splashing back into the water.
The genus includes the giant manta rays, M. alfredi, M. birostris, and M. yarae, which are the largest rays.
Description
Depending on the species, the devil rays can attain widths up to, the largest being second only to the manta rays in size, which can reach. 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.
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; another explanation is that mobula is a local name used by people living in Azores, who call this creature there.Based on genetics, and to a lesser degree, morphological evidence, the genus was redefined in 2017. Under this arrangement, Manta is included in Mobula.
Species
FishBase recognizes 11 species:Mobula alfredi Mobula birostris Mobula eregoodootenkee Bleeker, 1859 Mobula hypostoma Bancroft, 1831 Mobula japanica J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841 Mobula kuhlii J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841 Mobula mobular Bonnaterre, 1788 Mobula munkiana Notarbartolo di Sciara, 1987 Mobula rochebrunei Vaillant, 1879 Mobula tarapacana Philippi , 1892 Mobula thurstoni Lloyd, 1908 Mobula yarae Bucair & Marshall, 2025Extinct species by Shark-References:M. cappettae Jonet, 1976M. lorenzolizanoi Laurito Mora, 1999M. loupianensis Cappetta, 1970 M. melanyae M. pectinata Cappetta, 1970