An integrative taxonomy investigation unravels a cryptic species of Mobula Rafinesque, 1810 (Mobulidae, Myliobatiformes), from the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Manta and devil rays comprise a vulnerable animal group with a complex nomenclatural history and a somewhat unresolved taxonomy. The existence of a putative undescribed species of manta ray in the Atlantic Ocean has been proposed for over 15 years. Molecular assessments have been crucial for improving our understanding of the evolutionary history and, therefore, species delimitation of this threatened group.

Herein, morphological and molecular data from Western Atlantic specimens support the formal description of a new taxon assigned to the genus Mobula Rafinesque, 1810. Morphologically, this new mobulid species differs from its closest congeners (i.e., Mobula birostris and Mobula alfredi) on the stellate-shaped dermal denticle form and nonbifurcate ramification, the characteristic dorsal surface with V-shaped supra-branchial patches, ventral colour patterns, presence and feature of a caudal bulb with a residual spine, 9 to 13 rows of teeth, and overall morphometrics.

Based on nearly complete mitochondrial genome and nuclear data, phylogeny reconstructions recovered the new species as a monophyletic lineage closely related to M. birostris and M. alfredi. To date, the new manta ray species has been recorded only in Atlantic waters, inhabiting oceanic islands and archipelagos as well as coastal and estuarine regions, areas under major threats due to pollution, boat strikes, coastal fisheries, and habitat degradation.

Unfortunately, the species has been reported caught as bycatch, being either discarded, shared, or sold, in addition to boat strike and entanglement reports, suggesting that this new mobulid species, like all other mobulids, is likely threatened. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at doi. org/10.1007/s10641-025-01727-2. N. Bucair (*) C. L. B. Francini Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Laboratório de Ecologia da Reprodução e do Recrutamento de Organismos Marinhos (ECORREP), Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Projeto Mantas Do Brasil, Instituto Laje Viva, Santos, SP, Brazil A. G. Garrido · K. C. C. Capel · J. S. Monteiro · M. V. Kitahara e-mail: nayarabucair@usp.br Center of Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, SP, Brazil N. Bucair Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Oceanografia, Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil K. C. C. Capel Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil S. Hinojosa-Alvarez T. S. Loboda Tecnológico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil A. D. Marshall · J. Pate Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, FL, USA Keywords Biodiversity · Conservation · Manta ray · Mobulids · Systematics