# Devil Ray (*Mobula spp.*) Devil Rays are known for their unique shape and can leap out of the water! They are friendly and love to swim in groups. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Open ocean - **Also known as:** Mobula Ray ![Devil Ray](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424672/objects/4725.jpg) ## Appearance The Devil Ray has a diamond-shaped body with large, wing-like pectoral fins. Its back is typically dark grey or black, while its underside is white. Two horn-like cephalic fins extend forward from its mouth, making it easy to spot. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Elasmobranchii - **Order:** Myliobatiformes - **Family:** Myliobatidae - **Genus:** Mobula ## Interesting facts - Devil rays are closely related to sharks, both having skeletons made of cartilage! - Sometimes, hundreds of Devil Rays gather and swim together in amazing groups called 'fevers'! - These ocean travelers can migrate thousands of kilometers across vast open waters each year! - They have the largest brain-to-body size ratio of all fish, making them super smart! ## Special abilities - **Plankton Vacuum:** Devil Ray can filter huge amounts of water through its mouth to catch tiny plankton, helping it get plenty of food. - **Ocean Jumper:** Devil Ray can leap high out of the water, possibly to shake off parasites or communicate with other rays. - **Food Funnels:** Devil Ray has special horn-like fins that can funnel water and food into its mouth while it swims. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 100-520 cm - **Weight:** 100-1000 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Swim Speed:** 20 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 500 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding These gentle giants primarily filter tiny plankton and small fish directly from the ocean water. - **Primary Foods:** Plankton, Krill, Small schooling fish, Crustacean larvae - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great White Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-white-shark) (*Carcharodon carcharias*) — Young rays can be hunted by large sharks. - **Parasitizes:** Mobula Copepod (*Caligus mobulae*) — Tiny copepods can attach to their skin and gills. - **Symbiotic with:** [Cleaner Wrasse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cleaner-wrasse) (*Labroides dimidiatus*) — Wrasse clean parasites from their skin and gills. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Devil Ray? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Devil Ray? 100-520 cm ### How much does Devil Ray weigh? 100-1000 kg ### How long does Devil Ray live? 20-30 years ### What does Devil Ray eat? These gentle giants primarily filter tiny plankton and small fish directly from the ocean water. ### How fast can Devil Ray swim? 20 km/h ### Where is Devil Ray usually found? Open ocean ### How does Devil Ray hunt? Filter feeding ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Devil Ray: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/devil-ray)