Mobula cf. birostris

Jones, Christian M., Driggers Iii, William B., Hannan, Kristin M., Hoffmayer, Eric R., Jones, Lisa M. & Raredon, Sandra J., 2020, An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyan fishes inhabiting the northern Gulf of Mexico Part 1: Batoidea, Zootaxa 4803 (2), pp. 281-315 : 303

Mobula cf. birostris

Synonyms:? Cephalopterus giorna Lesueur, 1824

Distribution. Stevens et al. (2018) list this species as occurring throughout the northern GOM.

First Record in GOM. Until the species is formally described and the taxonomic history reviewed, it is difficult to determine when the species was first reported in the region. As it stands right now, the first report of the species from the northern GOM appears to be that of Stewart et al. (2018) from the Flower Garden Banks.

Remarks. Marshall et al. (2009) recognized M. cf. birostris as being distinct from M. birostris and suggested its synonymy with C. giorna . However, limited access to specimens for morphological examination has not allowed for formal description to this point. This species is now in the process of being formally described (A. Marshall, personal communication) which will no doubt shed additional light on the many unknowns surrounding its biology and zoogeography. Mobula cf. birostris has been confirmed as occurring regularly at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary ( Stewart et al. 2018, Hosegood et al. In Review). Stewart et al. (2018) indicated that the Flower Garden Banks serve as important juvenile habitat for this species.

Conservation Status. Vulnerable (when assessed together with M. birostris ). Until the species is formally described and separated from M. birostris , it is covered under the United States Endangered Species Act listing (Threatened) for that species.