Bentfin Devil Ray

The bentfin devil ray (Mobula thurstoni), also known as the lesser devil ray, smoothtail devil ray, smoothtail mobula, or Thurston's devil ray, is a species of ray belonging to the family Mobulidae. It can be found in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate oceans across the globe, with numerous sightings in locations such as 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇪🇨 Ecuador, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇪🇷 Eritrea, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇲🇻 Maldives, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇲🇲 Myanmar, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇵🇰 Pakistan, 🇵🇪 Peru, the 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates, 🇺🇸 United States (specifically California), 🇺🇾 Uruguay, 🇻🇺 Vanuatu, as well as throughout the central and western Pacific. It is probable that this species also occurs in many other areas within tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate oceans, both offshore and near the coast.

The adult bentfin devil ray can reach a noteworthy disc width of 189 cm (6.2 ft) and weigh approximately 54 kg (120 lb). The length of the disc is around 1.95 times its width. The front edge of the disc is nearly straight near the snout, but gracefully curves as it extends towards the broad, triangular pectoral fins. The back edge is concave, which gradually straightens as it approaches the tail. The ray possesses cephalic flaps on either side of its snout, with the mouth located on the underside of its head. The dorsal fin is about 80% as tall as it is long. The tail length ranges between half of the disc width and the entirety of the disc width, with the tail not bearing a spine. The upper surface of this ray typically exhibits colors ranging from dark grey to olive-gray, while the under surface is white. The rear of the tip of the pectoral fins is black, contrasting with the white front edge of these fins. The tip of the dorsal fin is also white.

Mobula thurstoni demonstrates global distribution, encompassing tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic Ocean, 🌊 Indian Ocean, and 🌊 Pacific Ocean. While it is primarily pelagic in inshore waters, it is uncommon for it to venture beyond depths of 100 m (330 ft).

Similar to other closely related species, the bentfin devil ray sustains itself on a diet consisting primarily of plankton. As it swims, it funnels water into its mouth, subsequently filtering plankton from the water using its gill rakers. In the Gulf of California, the most prevalent item in its diet is Nyctiphanes simplex, a species of krill. However, this ray also feeds seasonally on opossum shrimps.

Mobula thurstoni is a large fish that matures relatively late and has a low reproductive rate, producing only one offspring at a time. Although it has a widespread distribution, it is subject to fishing activities in certain regions and falls victim to incidental capture in gill nets and trawling practices in others. Reports indicate that it is frequently landed in 🇮🇩 Indonesia, the 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇲🇽 Mexico, and 🇧🇷 Brazil, with the likelihood that landings occur in other areas such as West Africa. In eastern Asia, the gill rakers of this species are also highly valued in addition to its flesh. The population trend of the bentfin devil ray remains unknown, although it is considered uncommon. Consequently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has designated its conservation status as "endangered".