A MOBULA EAGLE IN THE PORT OF BASTIA

Last weekend, a sea devil of more than two meters in width appeared in the port of Bastia: cousin of the mythical manta ray, the Mobula mobular does not seem determined to take the path of the open sea .

THE ONLY GENDER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Mobula mobular is the only relative of the Manta ray to frequent Mediterranean waters. And if the meeting has been a real attraction for a few days, it is not rare either: it is well located in its distribution area, Mediterranean and East Atlantic, along the African coast. It is therefore not a completely lost animal. On the other hand, its presence in the port is not natural.

ASSUMPTIONS TO EXPLAIN ITS PRESENCE

The day before, an observation was made outside, a few hundred meters from the coast, and it could well be the same animal. The question is why she took refuge in the port. She is certainly slightly injured by a hook hooked into one of her wings, but which should not be life threatening, and is insufficient to explain her behavior. Another hypothesis, internal parasites which could disorient the pelagic animal, but without any certainty insofar as the skate seems to evolve calmly and without difficulty. She could also, quite simply, be there to feed.

TO BEHAVE

Some have tried to rid it of the rapala by taking it out with a gaff, which risks on the one hand injuring it and on the other hand generates major stress for the animal. In this kind of situation, it is better to get in the water to try to gently steer the ray, or any other animal in the same case for that matter, towards the exit. But since Saturday, despite several attempts to help him leave the waters of the port, the Mobula has remained in the area. It remains for the boaters who enter and leave the port to be particularly vigilant.

THE LARGEST OF THE MOBULA TYPE

For an untrained eye, the Mobula rays, 9 species in all around the world, look very much like Manta rays. And this one, Mobula mobular, or devil of the Mediterranean sea, is the largest representative of the family since its wingspan can exceed 5 meters! But the Mobula have a shorter head than the Manta, a ventral and not a terminal mouth, and much smaller cephalic fins. They also have a very long flagellate tail, while that of the Manta is short. But it is very difficult, according to specialists, to distinguish between them the 9 species of the genus.

TRANSMIT YOUR INFORMATION

If you have the chance to come across one of these rays in Mediterranean waters this summer, take the time to transmit the information, either to Corsica-Research Group on Mediterranean Sharks, if the observation is made in Corsica , or to AILERONS, an association based in Montpellier that we presented to you some time ago, if the observation is made in continental waters: information, photos, videos, everything interests them. Mobula mobular is included in the red list of endangered species, but also in the appendices of the Bern and Barcelona conventions, and we need as much information as possible to be able to preserve it as well as possible. Identification sheets containing the main information to be noted are available on the websites of the two associations, and a sheet on how to behave is being prepared and will be available in the harbor offices. Since 2007, when the census operation was launched, around XNUMX individuals have already been reported.
Websites :
http://www.corsica-requins-de-mediterranee.org
http://ailerons.eu/