Devil fish

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For other uses of "Devil Fish" or "Devilfish", see Devilfish.
Devil fish
Atlantic mobula lisbon.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Elasmobranchii
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Myliobatidae
Genus: Mobula
Species: M. mobular
Binomial name
Mobula mobular
(Bonnaterre, 1788)
  • Mobula diabolus

The devil fish or giant devil ray (Mobula mobular) is a species of eagle ray, family Myliobatidae. They are most common in the Mediterranean Sea and can be found elsewhere in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, off the southwest coast of Ireland and south of Portugal.

It is larger than the lesser devil ray, growing to a maximum length of 5.2 metres (17 ft), and it possesses a spiny tail. The species feeds on crustaceans and small schools of fish.

The devil fish has a limited range and a low rate of reproduction. As a result it is sensitive to environmental changes. The main threats to this species come from pollution in the Mediterranean and accidental, unintended capture in various fishing equipment including trawls, tuna traps, and dragnets meant for swordfish, none of which are intended to ensnare Giant Rays. The 2004 IUCN Red List listed the devil fish as a vulnerable species, but in 2006 it was reclassified as an endangered species.


Mobula mobular

The warmer waters of the Mediterranean Sea is the natural habitat of the devil fish, and it can be found off the coasts of countries such as Algeria, Croatia, France, Greece, Palestine, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Tunisia.

Ecological Role[edit]

Devil rays eat planktonic crustaceans and small schooling fishes. According to some sources devil rays are flavorsome although, due to their sparse population, they cannot be sold commercially.


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