Mobula kuhlii (Valenciennes, 1841)

Pygmy Devilray

Cephaloptera kuhlii Valenciennes in Müller & Henle, 1841: 185, Pl. 59 (left). Lectotype: MNHN 0000-1596. Type locality: India.

Local synonymy: Mobula diabolus— Filewood, 1973: 14 (PNG). Mobula eregoodootenkee— Fricke et al., 2014: 15 (Madang). Mobula kuhlii— White et al., 2018: 288, figs (PNG).

PNG voucher material: (1 spec.) KFRS E.285 (clasper only), adult male, Fairfax Harbour, Port Moresby, 26 Nov. 1965.

Remarks: First recorded from PNG by Filewood (1973) as Mobula diabolus, a name which has been attributed to multiple species of devilrays but is a junior synonym of M. mobular (Bonnaterre, 1788) . Fricke et al. (2014) recorded M. eregoodootenke from off Madang; now considered a junior synonym of M. kuhlii (White et al., 2017b) . Occasionally observed by divers off Kavieng in New Ireland.