OVERVIEW
IUCN Red List classification.
Spinetail devil rays (Mobula mobular) are circumtropical, widely diffused in all oceans and adjacent seas, often extending their range into warm temperate latitudes.
Inhabiting offshore habitats, spinetail devil rays are among the most commonly caught mobulid rays in fisheries throughout their range. Consequently, given the growing demand in international trade for the dried gill plates of mobulids, spinetail devil rays have been greatly affected, and population declines have been documented throughout most of their range.
DISC WIDTH
Average: 180-280cm
Max: 320cm
WEIGHT
Up to 300kg
LIFESPAN
Unknown, but likely to be at least 15 years
KEY FEATURES
Thick black band on top of head that stretches from eye to eye, clearly darker than surrounding background colour.
Dorsal surface slate blue, with lighter grey colouring surrounding a black head band and fin edges.
Bright white ventral surface.
White-tipped elongated dorsal fin.
A caudal spine (often cut off by fishers).
Image Credit: Duncan Murrell
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