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Atlantic ocean manta ray11/19/2023 ![]() When feeding, this ray often pushes its way through turtle grass using its cephalic fins to funnel food towards its mouth. Evidence of some schooling fish, such as striped salt water minnows found in abundance off the coast of North Carolina, were also found. ![]() Primarily a pelagic plankton feeder, the few stomach contents that have been examined of the Atlantic devil ray contained remnants of small crustaceans such as shrimp. Accurate information on growth rates, maximum sizes, and size/age of maturity is currently lacking. Some have been recorded as being born as small as 21.7 in (55 cm) disc width, but most are larger at birth. It has been suggested that females may mature at 42.1 in (107 cm) in disc width. The disc of the Atlantic devil ray is about twice as wide as long, but this ray usually does not exceed 48 in (122 cm) in disc width. Each row of teeth overlaps the next with approximately ten rows of functional teeth in each jaw of both sexes. Dentition of the male is more crowded with usually one or three (but sometimes up to four or five) long, slender blunt cusps facing inward. The outer cephalic fins, lower parts of the disc and the tail of the Atlantic devil ray are a pale yellowish or grayish white, which continues along the ventral surface.ĭentition between the sexes differs with the teeth of the females being diamond, square or rectangular shaped, sometimes with all variations present simultaneously with a range of sizes. Possible specimens observed off West Africa have been described as blue, however the validity of these specimens' identifications is in question. The head of the Atlantic devil ray is relatively small and narrow with teeth present in the lower and upper jaws.Ītlantic devil rays have been described as black from above. hypostoma is identified by its distinctive large body disc covered in small denticles and its long slender whip-like tail lacking a spine, the latter of which distinguishes it from its relative Mobula mobular. The Atlantic devil ray has forward facing cephalic fins giving it the appearance of having horns, a characteristic so distinct that it could not be confused with anything else except M. This ray has been known to travel alone, in small groups, or in larger schools. It is also found along the northeastern and southeastern United States continental shelf and within the Canary currents. The Atlantic devil ray occurs in seas, bays and gulfs, and along the Brazil shelf. Whether it roams deeper and/or ranges more of the Atlantic Ocean is unknown. It is most often sighted near the surface over continental shelves, however at times this ray is known to come close to shore. The Atlantic devil ray is a pelagic wanderer. hypostoma may stray as far north as New Jersey, west to the eastern Atlantic coast, and south to the coast of Senegal, Africa, but these specimens may be misidentified M. This ray is known to inhabit tropical waters between 24-25º south and 34-35º north latitude. Sightings are common along the Atlantic coast of Florida and the surrounding areas (particularly in the summer), as well as in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Antilles. The Atlantic devil ray can be found in the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina south to northern Argentina. The Atlantic devil ray is often confused with its larger family member, Manta birostris, and in many languages the common names appear interchangeable. It is also known as the lesser devil ray (English), devil ray (English), small devilfish (English), atlantische duivelsrog (Dutch), diable géant (French), mante diable (French), diablo (Portuguese), jamanta (Portuguese), manta chica (Spanish), manta enana (Spanish), raya (Spanish), and vestatlantisk djaevlerokke (Danish). The name of the Atlantic devil ray comes from the ray's distinctive "horns" formed by the forward facing cephalic fins. Synonyms include Mobula olfersii and Cephaloptera olfersii Müller 1834, Cephaloptera massenoidea, Hill 1862, and Ceratobatis robertsi, Ceratobatic robertsii, and Mobula reobertsi, Boulanger 1897. The scientific name for this ray was later changed to Mobula hypostoma (Bancroft 1831). The Atlantic devil ray was described in 1831 by Bancroft as Cephalopterus hypostomus. ![]() The following is from the web page ‘ICHTHYOLOGY’ of the Florida museum of natural history.
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