Spinetail mobula (Mobula japanica) fish species and information / pictures of Spinetail mobula - Mobula japanica

Spinetail mobula (Mobula japanica) fish species information

Scientific Name
Mobula japanica

Common Name
Spinetail mobula

Biology
Found inshore, possibly in oceanic waters (Ref. 9911). Pelagic (Ref. 58302). Occurs singly or in groups (Ref. 9911). Feeds mainly on euphausiids (mainly Nictiphanes simplex), and to a lesser extent on copepods and crustacean larvae. May also feed on small fishes. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Acoustic tracks record the species to spend time above the thermocline at night to feed on krill (H. Dewar, pers.comm. 05/2000). Very common by-catch of the gillnet fisheries targeting skpjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). Utilized for its gill filter plates (very high value), meat, cartilage and skin (Ref.58048).

Classification

Classified By

M?ller & Henle, 1841

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Skates and Rays (Rajiformes)

Family

Eagle and manta rays (Myliobatidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: off South Africa, the Arabian Sea eastward to the Hawaiian Islands and Polynesia. Eastern Pacific: on the continental coast. Eastern Atlantic: C?te d'Ivoire but may probably be more wide-ranging. This has to be critically compared with Mobula mobular of the Mediterranean Sea and nominally elsewhere in the North Atlantic.

Range

40°N - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated

Trophic Level

3.41 s.e. 0.43 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

310 cm

Common Length

225 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5020 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (58 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=1)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Near Threatened (NT)