ORCID

Abstract

The distribution and seasonal occurrence of manta and devil rays (mobulids) remain poorly understood across much of the Western Indian Ocean, particularly within remote island systems. Here, we present the first synthesis of species-level mobulid records for the Mascarene Archipelago (La Réunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues) using a combination of direct and passive citizen-science observations collected between 2014 and 2026. A total of 107 sightings were documented from 75 sighting events, comprising Mobula birostris (n = 29), M. thurstoni (n = 40), M. alfredi (n = 5), M. tarapacana (n = 2) and unidentified Mobula spp. (n = 31). One M. birostris was re-sighted almost 4 years after it was first recorded (October 2019 to September 2023). Records were strongly concentrated along the west–south-west coast of La Réunion, accounting for 90% of all sightings, whereas confirmed sightings in Mauritius were fewer, and no records were obtained for Rodrigues. We report the first confirmed records of M. birostris and M. tarapacana in Mauritian and La Réunion waters, respectively. Circular analyses revealed seasonal occurrences for the most frequently recorded species, with peak occurrence during late austral spring to early summer. Courtship behaviour for M. thurstoni is rarely observed globally; thus, these findings demonstrate that the Mascarene Archipelago supports multiple mobulid species and is used for ecologically important activities, suggesting that the region forms part of a broader, seasonally structured habitat network associated with the Mascarene Plateau. In the context of the recent transfer of all mobulids to CITES Appendix I and ongoing regional fisheries interactions, this baseline highlights the value of citizen-science data for identifying mobulid presence in data-poor regions and provides a foundation for targeted monitoring and conservation planning in the Western Indian Ocean.

Publication Date

2026-06-23

Publication Title

Ecology and Evolution

Volume

16

Issue

6

ISSN

2045-7758

Acceptance Date

2026-05-31

Deposit Date

2026-07-01

Funding

None

Keywords

citizen science, elasmobranch, Mascarene plateau, seasonal aggregation, species distribution, Western Indian Ocean

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