Potential nursery area for the endangered oceanic mantaray in the Gulf of California, México

                                                                                         Photo Credit: © Manuel Lazcano

Potential nursery area for the endangered oceanic manta ray in the Gulf of California, México

Paul A. Preciado‑González | Felipe Galván‑Magaña | James T. Ketchum | Héctor Villalobos‑Ortiz | Rogelio González‑Armas | Jesús Erick Higuera‑Rivas | Arturo Ayala‑Bocos | Paola Ruffo‑Ruffo | Georgina Saad‑Navarro | Edgar M. Hoyos‑Padilla

Environmental Biology of Fishes (2025)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-025-01696-6

Abstract

Aspects of the early life stages of the oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris), particularly the identification of nursery areas, are either data-deficient or unknown. This study delves into the sighting frequency and habitat use of Mobula birostris in the southwestern Gulf of California, Mexico. Over a period of 9 years, we tracked the movements of manta rays using photo identification and acoustic telemetry in relation to seawater temperature. Our study identified 53 individuals, five of which were tagged with acoustic transmitters. All individuals were immature, with 31 of the 53 being sighted more than once, and three observed in different years. Tagged manta rays displayed a notable preference for La Reina, as their primary daytime habitat, exhibiting a high residency index (0.76) and remaining at the location for up to 55 consecutive days. Based on our observations and acoustic detections, M. birostris has a seasonal occurrence in the southwestern Gulf of California between July and November. These findings validate a potential nursery area for M. birostris in La Reina, serving as a refuge during its early life stage.

Keywords

Photo-ID, Juvenile manta ray, Passive acoustic telemetry. Mobula birostris. Residency