Family MOBULIDAE

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Introduction

Recent works are followed here in recognising the Mobulidae as a family (see Last & Stevens 2009, Last et al. 2016). However, other workers have treated the group was treated as a subfamiily of the Myliobatidae (Nelson 1994, 2006; Hoese et al. 2006, Nelson et al. 2016). González-Isáis & Domínguez (2004) included the group within the Myliobatidae. Notarbartolo-di-Sciara (1987) revised Mobula. Currently one genus and at least 10 species are recognised, seven species known from Australia (Last & Stevens 2009; Marshall et al. 2009, Last & White 2016, White et al. 2018, Notarbartolo-di-Sciara et al. 2019). Previously two genera were recognised. The group is found worldwide in warm seas on the continental shelf. They are pelagic filter feeders.

Manta birostris has been recorded from numerous localities, but it has shown to be distinct from the sympatric Manta alfredi (Marshall et al. 2009). Consequently, many distribution records require confirmation. Other species have also frequently been confused and many early records are unreliable.

Maximum size is 9 m disc width.

 

General References

González-Isáis, M. & Domínguez, H.M.M. 2004. Comparative anatomy of the superfamily Myliobatoidea (Chondrichthyes) with some comments on phylogeny. Journal of Morphology 262: 517-535

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing : Australia Part 1, pp. xxiv 1–670; Part 2, pp. xxi 671–1472; Part 3, pp. xxi 1473–2178.

Last, P.R., White, W.T., Carvalho, M.R. de, Séret, B., Stehmann, M.F.W. & Naylor, G.J.P. (eds.) 2016. Rays of the World. Clayton South, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 790 pp.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.

Last, P.R. & White, W.T. 2016. Mobulidae. pp. 741-749 in Last, P.R., White, W.T., Carvalho, M.R. de, Séret, B., Stehmann, M.F.W. & Naylor, G.J.P. (eds.). Rays of the World. Clayton South, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 790 pp.

Marshall, A.D, Compagno, L.J.V. & Bennett, M.B. 2009. Redescription of the genus Manta with resurrection of Manta alfredi (Krefft, 1868) (Chondrichthyes; Myliobatoidei; Mobulidae). Zootaxa 2301: 1-28

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C. & Wilson, M.V.H. 2016. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons 5, 752 pp.

Notarbartolo-di-Sciara, G. 1987. A revisionary study of the genus Mobula Rafinesque, 1810 (Chondrichthyes: Mobulidae) with the description of a new species. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 91(1): 1-91

White, W.T., Corrigan, S., Yang, L., Henderson, A.C., Bazinet, A.L., Swofford, D.L. & Naylor, G.J.P. 2018. Phylogeny of the manta and devilrays (Chondrichthyes: Mobulidae), with an updated taxonomic arrangement for the family. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 182(1): 50-75 [published online 24 June 2017]

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
05-Jun-2024	MYLIOBATIFORMES	20-Jun-2022	MODIFIED	Dr Doug Hoese Dr Matthew Lockett
04-Apr-2017	MOBULIDAE	23-Mar-2017	MODIFIED	Dr Doug Hoese
16-Apr-2012		16-Apr-2012	MODIFIED
		17-Mar-2010	ADDED