Rare Devil Ray found on North Stradbroke Island

North Stradbroke Island is the scene of the third ever recorded sighting of the Japanese Devil Ray (Mobula japanica) in Australian waters, a species more commonly found in Indonesia, Mexico and Japan.

Researchers from UQ's Moreton Bay Research Station collected the 2.2 m ray from Flinders beach after a call from the Straddie Wildcare team.

“The specimen was reportedly alive when first phoned in by a concerned member of the public,” Dr Kathy Townsend said. Dr Townsend is the Manager of Research and Education at Moreton Bay Research Station.

“Initial inspection indicated that the ray had been accidentally foul hooked by a fisherman and brought ashore.”

After transport to Moreton Bay Research Station, the team set out measuring and inspecting the giant ray.

“The diamond-shaped Japanese devil ray looks superficially like a manta ray with the cephalic lobes on the front of the head used to funnel water through the mouth,” UQ shark and ray researcher Pete Kyne said.

“Distinguishing features of the species include a short head and cephalic lobes, a white tip to the dorsal fin, a very long tail and the presence of a stinging barb (which manta rays lack).”

“Very little is known about the basic biology of this species, therefore this is a very important find.”

Dr Townsend said from this one animal, researchers had been able to determine important biological information about the Japanse Devil Ray. This included what they ate, how efficiently they fed, timing of their mating season and their susceptibility to differnt types of parasites.

After inspection by the research station team, the ray was transported to the Queensland Museum for their records. A full body cast was taken of the ray by curator staff at the Queensland Museum, with the results to be put on display at a later date.

“This find is really exciting as not only is it the third ever record of this species in Australian waters, but it was also the first ever record of a fully mature male,” Dr Jeff Johnson, Curator of Fishes from the Queensland Museum said.

“Due to their large size, ocean-going life style and plankton feeding habits, they are poorly represented in museum collections.”

To find out more information about this and other research that is being conducted in Moreton Bay, members of the public are invited to UQ BAYFEST 2007, the annual station open day on Saturday, November 24 from 10am to 4pm. Moreton Bay Research Station is located on the corner of Flinders Ave and Fraser Street, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island.

Media: For more information contact Dr. Kathy Townsend on (07) 3409 9058 or kathy.townsend@uq.edu.au