Giant Devil Rays in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea

Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara

doi:10.15468/hue889

Giant Devil Rays in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea

Citation

Notarbartolo di Sciara, G. 2016. Giant Devil Rays in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/1370) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/hue889 accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-07-11.

Description

Original provider: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Tethys Research Institute Dataset credits: Tethys Research Institute Abstract: The giant devil ray Mobula mobular, the only Mediterranean mobulid, is subject to mortality caused by directed and accidental captures in fisheries throughout the region. Whilst the combination of human impacts, limited range and a low reproductive potential is not inconsistent with its endangered listing, there are insufficient data to enable a quantitative assessment of trends. Without this, it is difficult to assess and prioritise threats and develop effective conservation actions. Using results from aerial surveys conducted between 2009 and 2014 over the Ligurian, Corsican, Sardinian, northern and central Tyrrhenian seas (626,228 km2), this study provides the first quantitative information on giant devil ray abundance and habitat choice in the western Mediterranean. Devil rays were observed in all seasons except winter, with their estimated abundance in the study area peaking in summer. The overall uncorrected mean density in the study area during summer was estimated at 0.0257 individuals km-2 (range: 0.017–0.044), resulting in a total abundance estimate of 6,092 (12.7%CV) individuals at the surface; once corrected for availability bias, this estimate indicates a summer presence of >12,700 devil rays in the study area. Rays were mostly observed alone even if occasionally, larger aggregations up to a maximum of 18 individuals were observed. Although observed throughout the study area, spatial modelling identified their preferred habitat to be over a broad strip connecting the Tuscan Archipelago to Eastern Sardinia, over a wide range of water depths ranging from 10 to 2000m. The observed seasonal changes in giant devil ray distribution in this study, combined with similar evidence from other areas in the Mediterranean, support the hypothesis that the species undertakes latitudinal migrations across the region, taking advantage of highly productive waters in the north during summer, and warmer southern waters during winter. Supplemental information: Some records do not have time part.

Purpose

Not available

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Mobula mobular
common name: giant devil ray rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Mediterranean Sea

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara
originator
position: Primary contact
Tethys Research Institute
email: tethys@tethys.org
homepage: http://www.tethys.org

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara
owner
position: Primary contact
Tethys Research Institute
email: tethys@tethys.org
homepage: http://www.tethys.org

Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Tethys Research Institute
email: tethys@tethys.org
homepage: http://www.tethys.org