Mobula kuhlii (Shorthorn devilray)

(Valenciennes, in Müller & Henle, 1841)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Batoidei >  Myliobatoidei >  Mobulidae

Mobula kuhlii (Shorthorn devilray) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A small, short-headed devilray with short head fins, subterminal mouth, a white-tipped dorsal fin, slightly curved tips on the pectoral disk, and no denticles on the upper surface. Tail shorter than disk, without a sting. Colour dark brown above, white below.

Size

To 1.1 m DW.

Range

East coast, Port Alfred to Natal and probably northwards; Indian Ocean and western Pacific.

Habitat

Pelagic and coastal, comes close inshore.

Biology

Almost totally unknown.

Human Impact

Caught in the Natal shark nets.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale