Lesser devil ray
Kingdom
Phylum
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Mobula hypostoma
Weight
116
255
kglbs
kg lbs 
Length
120
47
cminch
cm inch 

The lesser devil ray (Mobula hypostoma) is a species of devil ray in the family Mobulidae.

Appearance

Lesser devil rays are relatively small, with a maximum width of about 125 cm (49 in). They have forward-facing cephalic horns, while their long spineless tails distinguish them from their relatives M. mobular.

Show More

Dorsal coloration varies from light brown to black, although some specimens have been reported as blue. Individuals sometimes possess a dark grey collar between their spiracles.

Show Less

Distribution

Geography

These rays live in shallow, warm waters and can be found in shoals of up to 40 individuals, although more often ranging between 2 and 10.

Show More

They occur along the coasts of the western Atlantic, from North Carolina to northern Argentina. The related Mobula rochebrunei has occasionally been recovered as a junior synonym of M. hypostoma, extending the species' range to the eastern Atlantic.

Show Less

Diet and Nutrition

They mostly feed on zooplankton such as small crustaceans, although they can occasionally eat schooling fish, using their cephalic horns to funnel prey into their mouth.

References

1. Lesser devil ray Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_devil_ray
2. Lesser devil ray on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/126710128/214399766

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About