Devil fish

Devil fish
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Elasmobranchii
Order:	Myliobatiformes
Family:	Myliobatidae
Genus:	Mobula
Species:	M. mobular
Binomial name
Mobula mobular (Bonnaterre, 1788)
Synonyms
Mobula diabolus

The devil fish or giant devil ray (Mobula mobular) is a species of eagle ray, family Myliobatidae. They are most common in the Mediterranean Sea and can be found elsewhere in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, off the southwest coast of Ireland and south of Portugal.

It is larger than the lesser devil ray, growing to a maximum length of 520 centimetres (200 in), and it possesses a spiny tail. The species feeds on crustaceans and small schools of fish.

The devil fish has a limited range and a low rate of reproduction. As a result it is sensitive to environmental changes. The main threats to this species come from pollution in the Mediterranean and accidental, unintended capture in various fishing equipment including trawls, tuna traps, and dragnets meant for swordfish, none of which are intended to ensnare Giant Rays. The 2004 IUCN Red List listed the devil fish as a vulnerable species, but in 2006 it was reclassified as an endangered species.

Habitat

The Devil Ray is known mainly for living in areas such as Algeria, Croatia, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Tunisia, which are its native habitat. It’s known mainly for living in warmer waters and the Mediterranean Sea provides such an environment.

Ecological Role

The Devil Ray has no definite role in the environment. The closest role that a Devil ray has is eating planktonic crustaceans and small schooling fishes. In its entirety, the Devil Ray acts similar to other species of its kind. According to some sources Devil Rays are flavorsome although, due to their sparse population, Devil Rays cannot be sold for commercial use.

Population and conservation status

The population of the Devil Ray is unknown, although it is known to be decreasing. They can be found mainly in the Mediterranean Sea. The population of the Devil Ray is decreasing is due to the accidental takes in swordfish pelagic driftnets. They are also accidentally caught by fishermen.

Conservation

In order to conserve the Devil Ray, awareness of the harm fisherman cause towards Devil Ray needs to rise. Many state legislatives and governments are becoming more aware of this issue and are trying to bring awareness to the public in order to protect the Devil Ray from complete extinction.

References

• "Mobula mobular". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=160999. Retrieved 28 September 2006. 
• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Mobula mobular" in FishBase. September 2006 version.

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External links

• The Flying Mobulas of the Sea of Cortez by Paul Albert