Bentfin Devil Ray
Mobula thurstoni
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Elasmobranchii
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Mobulidae
- Genus
- Mobula
- Species
- Mobula thurstoni
The bentfin devil ray (Mobula thurstoni) is a medium-sized devil ray with a wingspan of up to about 1.8 m. Its name comes from the double curve along the leading edge of each pectoral fin, and its underside often shows a silvery sheen near the wing tips.
It lives in coastal and oceanic waters, feeding on small crustaceans such as krill and mysid shrimp. Like other devil rays it often travels in groups and may leap out of the water. The species is listed as Endangered.
In the Philippines bentfin devil rays are found in waters such as the Bohol Sea, where devil rays have long been targeted by fisheries. Divers occasionally see them gliding past in open water near drop-offs.
Photo: Ben Jobson, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist