Mobula rays belong to the genus Mobula. These elasmobranchs are closely related to manta rays and are now classified within the same family, Mobulidae. Often called “devil rays” due to their distinctive horn-like cephalic fins, Mobula rays are characterized by flattened, diamond-shaped bodies and wing-like pectoral fins. They primarily inhabit open ocean environments as filter feeders.
Global Ocean Habitats
Mobula rays exhibit a widespread global distribution, inhabiting tropical and warm temperate waters across the world’s major oceans. They are found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Atlantic Ocean
In the Atlantic, their presence spans from the eastern United States to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and extending to the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic.
Pacific Ocean
In the Pacific, Mobula rays are common in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, with populations off Baja California, Mexico, and south to Peru. The Indo-Pacific region also serves as a habitat, encompassing Hawaii and parts of Indonesia.
Indian Ocean
In the Indian Ocean, these rays frequent waters around the Maldives, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, and India. This broad oceanic range underscores their status as circumglobal marine species.
Preferred Environmental Conditions
Mobula rays prefer warmer waters, typically thriving in temperatures ranging from 20 to 26 degrees Celsius. While primarily pelagic, meaning they inhabit the open sea, they can also be found near coastal areas. Their depth range is considerable, extending from the ocean’s surface to several hundred meters, with some species capable of diving to depths of 1,000 to 2,000 meters.
Abundant plankton is a key factor influencing their habitat selection. As filter feeders, Mobula rays rely on microscopic organisms like zooplankton and small crustaceans as their primary food source. They use specialized gill rakers and cephalic fins to efficiently funnel and strain these tiny prey items from the water. They tend to concentrate in productive areas where plankton blooms occur, ensuring a consistent food supply.
Seasonal Movements and Gathering Spots
Mobula rays are highly migratory, undertaking extensive seasonal movements that can span hundreds of kilometers annually. These migrations are often driven by the availability of their planktonic food sources, which fluctuate with oceanographic conditions, and by their breeding cycles. Their non-static distribution means their locations can change depending on the time of year.
Large gatherings, sometimes referred to as “fevers,” draw thousands of individuals to specific locations. The Sea of Cortez, particularly around Baja California (including La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, and La Ventana), is a well-known site for these aggregations. They typically occur from April or May through July, with some activity observed from November to January. These congregations are associated with both feeding opportunities and reproductive activities, including mating and pupping.