Chilean devil ray
A deep-diving oceanic ray with a boxy head.
The Chilean devil ray is a large pelagic species found in warm oceans worldwide. It feeds on plankton near the surface and dives to extreme depths at night. Listed as Critically Endangered due to fishing pressure and demand for traditional medicine.
- Reaches a disc width of up to 3.7 metres
- Dives to depths of 1,896 metres at night
- Has a unique boxy and rectangular head shape
- Listed as Critically Endangered globally
- Performs aerial breaches above the water surface
What it is
This species belongs to the family Mobulidae and is distinct for its rectangular, box-like head shape. Most rays have rounded heads, but this one features a pale patch behind the head that helps identify it. The body is flat and disc-shaped. It possesses long, finger-like cephalic fins on the head that channel food into the mouth. A specialized gill rack filter pad strains microscopic organisms from the water. Adults can reach a disc width of 3.7 metres.
Where it lives
These rays inhabit warm temperate and tropical waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They are primarily pelagic, living in the open ocean away from land, though they occasionally appear near continental shelves and oceanic islands. Their distribution spans from the northeastern United States and the Caribbean to Japan and Australia. They are also found off South Africa and the Maldives. The species is known to undertake long-distance migrations across the Atlantic Ocean.
How it lives
As planktivorous filter feeders, they consume zooplankton, copepods, krill, and small crustaceans. They swim with mouths open, trapping prey in their gills while expelling water. Feeding usually occurs near the surface where plankton is dense. They are famous for breaching, leaping feet into the air, possibly for communication or parasite removal. They perform deep dives up to 1,896 metres, often at night. A vascular structure called retia mirabilia warms their brain in cold depths. They stay in warm surface water before and after dives to regulate temperature.
Fish and people
The species holds significance in traditional Asian medicine, which drives targeted fishing. This demand contributes to population declines. They are also caught accidentally as bycatch in gill net and trawl fisheries. As indicator species, their health reflects the state of marine ecosystems. Loss of these rays can signal broader biodiversity damage. Conservation efforts are focusing on better understanding their population dynamics to improve management strategies against these threats.
Status and threats
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Chilean devil ray as Critically Endangered. Populations are decreasing rapidly due to targeted fishing for traditional medicine and accidental capture in commercial fisheries. Pollution and climate change further impact their prey availability and habitat health. Researchers are developing new programmes to study their dynamics and support conservation. Immediate attention is required to prevent further damage to these important marine animals.
Questions people ask about Chilean devil ray
What does the Chilean devil ray eat?
It is a planktivorous filter feeder that consumes zooplankton, copepods, krill, and other small crustaceans. It swims with its mouth open to strain these microscopic organisms from the water using a specialized gill rack.
How deep can this ray dive?
It is among the deepest-diving ocean animals, reaching depths of up to 1,896 metres. These deep dives often occur at night and follow a stepwise pattern where the ray levels up in denser prey layers.
Why is it called the box ray?
The name comes from its unique head shape, which is boxy and rectangular rather than rounded like other rays. A pale patch behind the head also serves as a key identifier for the species.
Is the Chilean devil ray endangered?
Yes, it is classified as Critically Endangered. Populations are declining due to bycatch in fisheries and targeted hunting for traditional Asian medicines, alongside threats from pollution and climate change.
Good reading and sources
- Chilean devil ray on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Chilean devil ray", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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