Small manta!? The world’s first exhibit of smoothtail devil ray.

We are happy to announce the world’s first exhibit of smoothtail devil ray. at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

ヒメイトマキエイ

（Rearing date: May 13th, 2019）

≪ヒメイトマキエイ≫
Scientific name：Mobula thurstoni
English name：Smoothtail devil ray

This species of ray is in the same genus as mantas. It reaches approximately 2 meters in width and is the smallest species in the genus Mobula. Its dorsal side is a glossy bluish- purple with a distinctive dark band stretching across the dorsal side of its head.

Place of exhibit

“The Kuroshio Sea” main tank of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Size of Exhibit

Two individuals（1 Female：Width about 120cm・1 Male：Width about 100cm）
Exhibit may close depending on the condition of the animal.

Smoothtail mobula are difficult to rear so there had been no smoothtail mobula exhibited at an aquarium.
Okinawa Churashima Foundation, which manages and operates Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, studied the ecology and physiology of the smoothtail mobula.After considering how best to transport and rear them, it resulted in the world’s first successful exhibit of the smoothtail mobula.

Through rearing, differences in behavior between the smoothtail mobula and other mobula species have been observed, such as it suddenly accelerating toward its food when it feeds.This distinctive behavior can be observed during feeding hours at 15:00 and 17:00 through the Churaumi Theater window.
You can join the “Explore the Kuroshio Sea Tank program” and see its bluish-purple dorsal side as it gracefully swims beneath you.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium will continue to investigate the ecology of the smoothtail mobula through rearing and share our knowledge of its growth and reproductive ecology.