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Mobula thurstoni (Lloyd, 1908)

Smoothtail mobula
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Mobula thurstoni   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Mobula thurstoni (Smoothtail mobula)
Mobula thurstoni
Picture by Notarbartolo di Sciara, G.

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Myliobatiformes (Stingrays) > Mobulidae (Devilrays)
Etymology:

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 0 - 100 m (Ref. 12951). Subtropical; 38°N - 34°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Circumglobal in tropical seas. Indian Ocean: off South Africa, Bay of Bengal, and probably Indonesia (Ref. 9911). Eastern Central Pacific: From Gulf of California to Chile (Ref. 130539).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm 163.6, range 146 - ? cm
Max length : 220 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850); common length : 150 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 9256)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

A moderate-sized devilray with a short head bearing short head fins; dorsal fin white-tipped, and pectoral fins with swept-back tips and a prominent double bend to the front margins; upper disc sparsely covered with small, blunt denticles and tail shorter than disc, with no spine (Ref. 5578). Dark blue to black above; white below, with silvery pectoral fin tips (Ref. 5578). No caudal fin (Ref. 5578).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Occurs in coastal and oceanic waters, but more common near the coast (Ref. 9256). Found singly or in small groups (Ref. 12951). Feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans (Ref. 12951); mostly small shrimp-like animals (Ref.58048). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Caught occasionally in the tuna gillnet and in harpoon fisheries. Utilized for its gill filter plates (high value), meat, cartilage and skin (Ref.58048). Can leap out of the water.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). With one large offspring per gestation period. Size at birth 65-85 cm (Ref. 6871).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens, 1994. Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia. 513 p. (Ref. 6871)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Endangered (EN) (A2bd+3d); Date assessed: 09 November 2018

CITES


Threat to humans

  Harmless





Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial
FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Internet sources

AFORO (otoliths) | Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | BOLDSystems | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes: genus, species | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO - Publication: search | Faunafri | Fishipedia | Fishtrace | GenBank: genome, nucleotide | GloBI | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | MitoFish | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Socotra Atlas | Tree of Life | Wikipedia: Go, Search | World Records Freshwater Fishing | Zoological Record

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 21.6 - 29.1, mean 27.8 °C (based on 2652 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5005   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  3.1   ±0.30 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=1).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Very high vulnerability (85 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Medium.
Nutrients (Ref. 124155):  Calcium = 7.99 [1.05, 135.60] mg/100g; Iron = 0.83 [0.08, 10.24] mg/100g; Protein = 20.6 [15.3, 25.9] %; Omega3 = 0.157 [0.047, 0.501] g/100g; Selenium = 22.8 [4.7, 120.5] μg/100g; VitaminA = 4.56 [0.35, 57.84] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.483 [0.030, 5.484] mg/100g (wet weight);