About Mobula hypostoma (Bancroft, 1831)
This species, known as the lesser devil ray, has the scientific name Mobula hypostoma (Bancroft, 1831). Lesser devil rays are relatively small, reaching a maximum width of around 125 cm (49 in). They have forward-facing cephalic horns, and their long, spineless tails set them apart from their close relative M. mobular. Their dorsal coloration ranges from light brown to black, though some specimens have been recorded as blue. Individual rays sometimes have a dark grey collar between their spiracles. These rays inhabit shallow, warm waters. They can form shoals of up to 40 individuals, but more commonly their shoal sizes fall between 2 and 10 individuals. They are found along the coasts of the western Atlantic, from North Carolina to northern Argentina. The related species Mobula rochebrunei has sometimes been classified as a junior synonym of M. hypostoma, which would extend the recognized range of this species into the eastern Atlantic.
