First records of Mobula hypostoma (Bancroft, 1831), Atlantic Pygmy Devil Ray, (Myliobatiformes, Mobulidae) and other devil rays in shallow waters of the Republic of the Congo, Gulf of Guinea (West Africa)

By

De Boer, Marijke N
Wieczorek, Agnieszka
Notarbartolo Di Sciara, Giuseppe

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024-6-5

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

20

Series / Issue

Issue: 3

Pages

646--652

Subjects

Conservation , Distribution , Elasmobranch , megafauna survey

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/20.3.646

 

Abstract

Mobula hypostoma (Bancroft, 1831), Atlantic Pygmy Devil Rays, were observed during megafauna surveys in the shallow coastal waters off the Republic of the Congo. These are the first records of this species in its natural habitat in Congolese waters, which may well offer an important habitat for these coastal batoids, but further research is needed. There is an urgent need for management measures to protect M. hypostoma throughout its African range, particularly in view of the recent increase in fishing activities within the region.