Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Myliobatiformes (Stingrays) >
Mobulidae (Devilrays)
Eponymy: Walter Heinrich Munk (1917–2019) was an Austrian-born American oceanographer. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 15 m (Ref. 58018). Tropical; 32°N - 7°S, 114°W - 77°W (Ref. 114953)
Eastern Pacific: From Gulf of California to Peru, incl. the Galapagos Is. (Ref. 130539).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 220 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 28023); common length : 100.0 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 9256)
Pelagic species forming schools in coastal and oceanic waters, but also found near the bottom. Found singly, in small groups, or in schools (Ref. 12951). Feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans, but also takes small schooling fishes (Ref. 12951). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Gestation period unknown (Ref. 114953).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449).
McEachran, J.D. and G. Notarbartolo di Sciara, 1995. Mobulidae. Mantas, diablos. p. 759-764. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para los Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9256)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 22.2 - 28.5, mean 23.5 °C (based on 368 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5005 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.60 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (85 of 100).