Dr. John Ernest (Jack) Randall (†), Hawaii
Info
The Bentfin Devil Ray lives in oceanic waters and is a seasonal visitor along productive coasts with regular upwelling, off oceanic island groups, and near coastal pinnacles and seamounts.
The Bentfin devil ray is not considered a schooling fish, but larger groups do congregate seasonally in particularly food-rich areas.
Devil rays are not dangerous for divers and snorkelers and are also very impressive photo objects!
Mobula thurstoni has a characteristic double curvature at the front edge of its pectoral fins, while the undersides of its pectoral fins are colored in a beautiful iridescent silver or gold.
Weight estimates of these harmless crustacean eaters vary in the literature from 55 kilograms to 200 kilograms.
Females usually give birth to a single large juvenile and occasionally two juveniles, after a pregnancy the females have a "resting period" of 1 - 3 years before they become pregnant again.
Quick ID Tips:
- Dark purple to blue-gray on the back.
- Thick black band on top of head extending from eye to eye, much darker than surrounding background color
- White ventral side with silvery brown / gold sheen on distal ends of pectoral fins
- Anterior margin of pectoral fins has a pronounced double curvature with black/gray shading on the curvature
- White-tipped dorsal fin and no caudal spine.
Synonyms:
Dicerobatis thurstoni Lloyd, 1908.
Mobula lucasana Beebe & Tee-Van, 1938
The Bentfin devil ray is not considered a schooling fish, but larger groups do congregate seasonally in particularly food-rich areas.
Devil rays are not dangerous for divers and snorkelers and are also very impressive photo objects!
Mobula thurstoni has a characteristic double curvature at the front edge of its pectoral fins, while the undersides of its pectoral fins are colored in a beautiful iridescent silver or gold.
Weight estimates of these harmless crustacean eaters vary in the literature from 55 kilograms to 200 kilograms.
Females usually give birth to a single large juvenile and occasionally two juveniles, after a pregnancy the females have a "resting period" of 1 - 3 years before they become pregnant again.
Quick ID Tips:
- Dark purple to blue-gray on the back.
- Thick black band on top of head extending from eye to eye, much darker than surrounding background color
- White ventral side with silvery brown / gold sheen on distal ends of pectoral fins
- Anterior margin of pectoral fins has a pronounced double curvature with black/gray shading on the curvature
- White-tipped dorsal fin and no caudal spine.
Synonyms:
Dicerobatis thurstoni Lloyd, 1908.
Mobula lucasana Beebe & Tee-Van, 1938
