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Mobula Temporal range: Early Oligocene to present[1]
Mobula sp. breaching, Baja California
Conservation status
CITES Appendix II [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Order:	Myliobatiformes
Family:	Mobulidae
Genus:	Mobula Rafinesque, 1810
Type species
Raja mobular Bonnaterre, 1788

Mobula is a genus of rays in the family Mobulidae that is found worldwide in tropical and warm, temperate seas.^[3] Some authorities consider this to be a subfamily of the Myliobatidae (eagle rays).^[4][5] Species of this genus are often collectively referred to as "devil rays", "flying mobula", or simply "flying rays", due to their propensity for breaching, sometimes in a spectacular manner. These rays gather in groups and leap out of the surface into the air up to around 2 m (6 ft 7 in) before splashing back into the water.^[6]

The genus includes the giant manta rays (traditionally in their own genus Manta), M. alfredi, M. birostris, and M. yarae, which are among the largest known rays.^[3][7]

External videos
Mobula rays "vortex feeding"

Depending on the species, the devil rays can attain widths up to 1.1–5.2 m (3.6–17.1 ft), the largest being second only to the manta rays in size, which can reach 5.5–7.0 m (18.0–23.0 ft).^[3] Despite their size, little is known about the devil rays, much of it anecdotal; the manta rays are better known.

Most species entirely lack a tail stinger. In most species having a stinger, it is encased, rendering it harmless; only M. mobular has a "free" stinger.^[3]

The genus was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1810 describing the devil fish, Raia mobular or now Mobula mobular. The name can be explained from Latin mobilis "mobile" or "movable", because of the species' migratory habits;^[8][9] it has also been speculated that the word derives from a native language of the Azores.^[8]

Based on genetics, and to a lesser degree, morphological evidence, the genus was redefined in 2017. Under this arrangement, Manta is included in Mobula.^[3]

• List of prehistoric cartilaginous fish

• Videos and information about several Mobula species^{[link removed]} — ARKive.org