Mobula rochebrunei (Vaillant, 1879)
Lesser Guinean devil ray
Mobula rochebrunei
photo by FAO

Family:  Mobulidae (Devilrays)
Max. size:  133 cm WD (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania (Ref. 5377) to Angola (Ref. 3166). Reported from Brazil (Ref. 53435).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Found in- and offshore areas (Ref. 106604). Usually small, although it attains a maximum length of 200 cm. Lives in groups and swims either close to the bottom or at the surface. The cephalic horns serve as a funnel to bring food near the mouth. Its behavior is rather sluggish at the surface; however, they can swim rapidly and make impressive leaps out of the water. They are actually inoffensive when they are not disturbed or are not wounded. Feeds on small fish and plankton (Ref. 5377). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 4442).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 01 January 2007 (A4d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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