Mobula/Devil Rays

Mobula sp

Description:

First time to see huge school of this Mobula/Devil Rays, in the hundreds and on several dives/occasions. Incredible experience indeed. Not very sure which species of Mobula Rays this are as they are of medium size around 2 - 2.5 meters, too small for Mobula mobular species (up to 5 meters wing span) and too big for the Mobula eregoodootenkee (Pygmy Devil Ray) which are usually up to 1 meter wing span and more brownish in colour. There is one undescribed Mobula, called Borneo Devilray, but can't be certain if its the same - mentioning it as Lombok is not too far from Borneo. Mobula is a genus of ray in the family Myliobatidae (eagle rays). Their appearance is similar to that of manta rays, which are in the same family. Species of this genera are often collectively referred to as "devil rays", "flying mobula" or simply "flying rays", due to their propensity for breaching, sometimes in a spectacular manner. The devil fish can attain a disc width of up to 5.2 m (17 ft) and can probably weigh over a ton, second only to the Manta species in size. Despite their size, little is known about this genus, much of it being from anecdotal accounts.