Mobula tarapacana
CR

Mobula tarapacana

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilean_devil_ray

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Chilean devil ray faces severe population declines primarily due to targeted fisheries and bycatch in gillnets, longlines, and purse seines throughout its range. Industrial fishing operations have historically targeted this species for its gill plates, which are highly valued in Asian markets for traditional medicine. Climate change is altering ocean temperatures and currents, potentially disrupting the planktonic food sources that these filter-feeding rays depend upon for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Mobula tarapacana inhabits tropical and subtropical oceanic waters, typically found in epipelagic zones from the surface to depths of 200 meters. This highly migratory species prefers open ocean environments where it feeds on zooplankton and small schooling fish, often aggregating in areas with high productivity such as upwelling zones.

Marine oceanic· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionLegislationCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Mobula tarapacana classified as Critically Endangered?
Mobula tarapacana is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Chilean devil ray faces severe population declines primarily due to targeted fisheries and bycatch in gillnets, longlines, and purse seines throughout its range. Industrial fishing operations have historically targeted this species for its gill plates, which are highly valued in Asian markets for traditional medicine. Climate change is altering ocean temperatures and currents, potentially disrupting the planktonic food sources that these filter-feeding rays depend upon for survival.
Where does Mobula tarapacana live?
Mobula tarapacana occurs in Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, and Caribbean Netherlands (plus 29 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Mobula tarapacana?
The main threats to Mobula tarapacana are 11.1, 5.3, 6.1, and 9.3.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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