Devil rays
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Devil ray
Mobula mobular
About
The devil ray is a giant of the open sea, gliding through blue water on broad, wing-like fins that can weigh it in at up to 1,500 kg. It is one of the biggest rays a diver could ever hope to cross paths with.
- Weight
- max 1.5 t
How to tell it apart
Among rays in its genus, it is the only one with a spine near the base of the tail - a useful check if you can get a clear look as it passes.
Appearance
This is a huge ray with a broad, diamond-shaped body and long, pointed pectoral fins that beat like wings as it swims. It ranks as the third-largest ray in its genus, behind only the oceanic and reef manta rays. Its tail is long and slender, tipped with a spine near the base.
Habitat
The devil ray is most common in the Mediterranean Sea, especially the eastern basin and the Adriatic, and also turns up in the eastern Atlantic off Ireland and Portugal and in parts of the Pacific. It swims mainly in open water far from shore, but also crosses shallower coastal waters, and migrates with the seasons to follow warm, food-rich water.
Conservation
The devil ray breeds very slowly and has a limited range, which makes it highly sensitive to pressure from fishing. Most known deaths come from bycatch in swordfish nets, tuna traps, trawls and driftnets across the Mediterranean. It is now legally protected in several Mediterranean countries and under international conservation agreements, but its population is still falling.
Did you know?
It is the only mobulid ray species that lives in the Mediterranean Sea.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
