Munk's Pygmy Devil Ray
Mobula munkiana
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderMyliobatiformes (Stingrays)
- FamilyMyliobatidae (Eagle Rays)
- GenusMobula (Devil Rays)
- SpeciesMobula munkiana (Munk's Pygmy Devil Ray)
Mobula munkiana, commonly known as the manta de monk, Munk's devil ray, pygmy devil ray, smoothtail mobula, or Munk's pygmy devil ray, is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae. They are commonly mistaken for their close relatives, M. thurstoni (bentfin devil ray) and M. mobular (giant devil ray). Although they are the smallest of the species in genus Mobula, they make up for their size with their incredible speed and agility. These characteristics are a likely explanation for their lack of natural predators, although they have been known to be hunted by orcas and are often fished by humans. One of the defining characteristics of this group are their acrobatic performances that are conducted while jumping in the air in schools of thousands. It is thought that these spectacles are a functional part of their lifestyle, including kickstarting mating rituals. Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Munk's Pygmy Devil Ray sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 13 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Coiba National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 3 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Munk's Pygmy Devil Ray in Galápagos Islands?
About 9% of wildlife watchers report a Munk's Pygmy Devil Ray sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 13 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Munk's Pygmy Devil Ray in Galápagos Islands?
January has the highest sighting rate for Munk's Pygmy Devil Ray in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.