Sicklefin Devil Ray
Mobula tarapacana
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Elasmobranchii
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Mobulidae
- Genus
- Mobula
- Species
- Mobula tarapacana
The sicklefin devil ray (Mobula tarapacana) is one of the largest devil rays, reaching a wingspan of over 3 m. It has strongly swept-back, sickle-shaped pectoral fins, an olive-brown to greenish back and a white underside with a grey rear margin.
It is a mostly oceanic species that dives deeply and feeds on small fish and crustaceans. It is often solitary or in small groups and can approach divers out of the blue. The species is listed as Endangered.
In the Philippines sicklefin devil rays are seen on occasion at offshore reefs and drop-offs, and they have been recorded in fisheries in the Bohol Sea. Encounters on dives are infrequent but memorable.
Photo: Dan Schofield, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist