Taxonomic status, biological notes, and conservation of the longhorned pygmy devil ray Mobula eregoodoo (Cantor, 1849)

Abstract

The longhorned pygmy devil ray Mobula eregoodoo (Cantor, 1849), formerly known as Mobula eregoodootenkee (Bleeker, 1859), is a small mobulid with a disc reaching a maximum width of 1.3 m, widely ranging in tropical and subtropical latitudes across the Indian Ocean, the Indo‐Pacific region, and the western Pacific Ocean. A recently emerged opportunity to examine several (n = 47) M. eregoodoo specimens bycaught in bather protection gillnets off New South Wales, Australia, together with new information assembled from other areas of its range, now allows for a redescription of the species, which was incompletely described in the past because of a paucity of specimens. Based on the morphometric, morphological, ecological, and behavioural elements presented here, corroborated by recent genetic investigations, we argue that M. eregoodoo (Cantor, 1849) is a valid species, distinct from shorthorned pygmy devil ray Mobula kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841). These findings are contrary to a recent revision of Mobula, where it was assessed as a synonym of M. kuhlii. The accuracy of taxonomic assessments underpins the effectiveness of species conservation, particularly when direct exploitation or bycatch in various fisheries needs to be managed for sustainability. Failing to recognize that two similar‐looking species are distinct, such as M. eregoodoo and M. kuhlii, creates uncertainties that could result in mismanagement and underestimating local and global threats of extinction.

Phylogenomics and species delimitation for effective conservation of manta and devil rays

“…japanica as described by White et al (2018). Such an assertion is also in line with a previous study of mitogenome and nuclear data of this species (Poortvliet et al, 2015), as well as morphological similarities that have been documented in these taxa for several decades (Notarbartolo di Sciara, 1987;. However, through analysing a larger number of geographically representative samples and genome-wide molecular markers, our work addresses the constraints of previous studies, and therefore provides the most robust genetic evidence to date that M. mobular should be considered a single species unit for conservation.…”

“…To alleviate these threats, all mobulid species are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and on Appendices I and II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). However, mobulids are poorly studied, with marked trans‐species similarity in morphology, a lack of population‐level data and ongoing taxonomic debate (Notarbartolo di Sciara, Adnet, et al, 2020; Stewart et al., 2018). To develop effective conservation measures, there is an urgent need for both species and intraspecies boundaries within mobulids to be resolved.…”

“…Nevertheless, as previous work has been geographically restricted and reliant on few samples, the relationships between other species groups remain problematic and patterns of intraspecific variation are largely unknown. Indeed, M. eregoodootenkee has since been resurrected and redescribed as M. eregoodoo on the basis of morphological and ecological evidence (Notarbartolo di Sciara, Adnet, et al, 2020).…”

“…kuhlii cf. eregoodootenkee (Notarbartolo di Sciara,Adnet, et al, 2020). An additional five samples from Rhinoptera bonasus were obtained as an outgroup.…”

Short‐ and long‐term diets of the threatened longhorned pygmy devil ray, Mobula eregoodoo determined using stable isotopes

“…Recent metabarcoding of stomach contents in the longhorned pygmy devil ray, Mobula eregoodoo (previously M. eregoodootenkee and M. kuhlii, cf . eregoodootenkee ; Notarbartolo di Sciara et al ., 2020) revealed a diet of predominantly sandy sprat, Hyperlophus vittatus (when using the 16S fish assay) as well as plankton and other crustaceans (Barbato et al ., 2019).…”