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Mobulidae - manta rays

Manta RayThere are 10 species in this family. They are found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. They have large pectoral fins and whip-like tails with a small dorsal fin. They also have two horn-like fins on their heads. These are called cephalic fins.

The cephalic fins are actually an extension of their pectoral fins. The cephalic fins look like devil horns, and the rays in this family are sometimes called devil rays.

Manta rays have five gill slits on their undersides. They feed by straining fish and plankton out of the water. Like the eagle rays, they propel themselves through the water by flapping their pectoral fins. The giant manta ray is a member of this family. It can be up to 22 feet across!

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in US Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

  New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

None
   Manta Ray - Manta birostris Near Threatened
Atlantic Devil Ray - Mobula hypostoma Near Threatened
Spinetail Mobula - Mobula japanica Near Threatened
Smoothtail Mobula - Mobula munkiana Near Threatened
Greater Guinean Mobula - Mobula tarapacana Near Threatened
Smoothtail Devil Ray - Mobula thurstoni Near Threatened

Other Species Around the World

Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North America South AmericaSouth America New Hampshire Species NH Species
atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean Arctic OceanArctic Ocean indian OceanIndian Ocean southern oceanMediterranean/Black Sea pacific oceanPacific Ocean

Manta Ray - Manta birostris Near Threatened Africa Asia Australia Europe North America South America atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Pygmy Devil Ray - Mobula eregoodootenkee Near Threatened Africa Asia Australia indian Ocean pacific ocean
Atlantic Devil Ray - Mobula hypostoma Near Threatened North America South America atlantic Ocean
Spinetail Mobula - Mobula japanica Near Threatened Africa Asia Australia North America South America atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Shortfin Devil Ray - Mobula kuhlii Near Threatened Africa Asia atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Giant Devil Ray - Mobula mobular Near Threatened Africa Asia Europe atlantic Ocean southern ocean
Smoothtail Mobula - Mobula munkiana Near Threatened North America South America pacific ocean
Lesser Guinean Devil Ray - Mobula rochebrunei Near Threatened Africa South America atlantic Ocean
Greater Guinean Mobula - Mobula tarapacana Near Threatened Africa Asia Australia North America South America atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Smoothtail Devil Ray - Mobula thurstoni Near Threatened Africa Asia Australia North America South America atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean 		   

Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Giant Devil Ray - Mobula mobular profile Photos Near Threatened Africa Asia Europe atlantic Ocean southern ocean
The giant devil ray is found in the Mediterranean and in the eastern Atlantic.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Greater Guinean Mobula - Mobula tarapacana Photos Near Threatened Africa Asia Australia North America South America atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
The greater Guinean mobula is found in temperate and tropical waters around the world.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Manta Ray - Manta birostris profile Photos Video Near Threatened Africa Asia Australia Europe North America South America atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
The manta ray is found in tropical waters around the world.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Pygmy Devil Ray - Mobula eregoodootenkee profile Photos Video Near Threatened Africa Asia Australia indian Ocean pacific ocean
The pygmy devil ray is found in tropical coastal waters of the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Ocean.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Smoothtail Mobula - Mobula munkiana profile Photos Video Near Threatened North America South America pacific ocean
The smoothtail mobula is found in the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School


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