Mobula thurstoni
CR

Mobula thurstoni

Declining

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

Overview

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

Mobula thurstoni faces severe population declines primarily due to targeted fisheries and bycatch in gillnets and purse seines throughout its Indo-Pacific range. The species' slow reproductive rate, with females reaching maturity late and producing only one pup every 2-3 years, makes populations extremely vulnerable to fishing pressure. Industrial fishing operations targeting rays for their gill plates, used in traditional medicine, have intensified across Southeast Asian waters where this species occurs.

Threat summary

Habitat

Mobula thurstoni inhabits tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, typically found in pelagic environments from surface waters to depths of approximately 200 meters. The species occurs in both oceanic and nearshore waters, often aggregating in areas with high productivity where zooplankton concentrations support their filter-feeding behavior.

Marine oceanic· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionLegislationCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in MOBULIDAE

Mobula mobularCR

Mobula mobular

Declining
Mobula kuhliiEN

Mobula kuhlii

Declining
VU

Mobula munkiana

Declining
VU

Reef Manta Ray

Mobula alfredi

Declining

Threatened in Angola

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
VU

Spinomantis massi

Declining
VU

African Softshell Turtle

Trionyx triunguis

Declining
EN

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Mobula thurstoni classified as Critically Endangered?
Mobula thurstoni 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. Mobula thurstoni faces severe population declines primarily due to targeted fisheries and bycatch in gillnets and purse seines throughout its Indo-Pacific range. The species' slow reproductive rate, with females reaching maturity late and producing only one pup every 2-3 years, makes populations extremely vulnerable to fishing pressure. Industrial fishing operations targeting rays for their gill plates, used in traditional medicine, have intensified across Southeast Asian waters where this species occurs.
Where does Mobula thurstoni live?
Mobula thurstoni occurs in Angola, Australia, Brazil, China, Christmas Island, and Colombia (plus 30 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 thurstoni?
The main threats to Mobula thurstoni are 11.1, 5.3, 5.4, and 6.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.