An integrative taxonomy investigation unravels a cryptic species of Mobula Rafinesque, 1810 (Mobulidae, Myliobatiformes), from the Atlantic Ocean Author Bucair, Nayara Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Laboratório de Ecologia da Reprodução e do Recrutamento de Organismos Marinhos (ECORREP), Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil & Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Oceanografia, Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil nayarabucair@usp.br Author Hinojosa-Alvarez, Silvia Tecnológico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Author Marshall, Andrea Denise Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, FL, USA Author Pate, Jessica Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, FL, USA Author Francini, Carlo Leopoldo Bezerra Projeto Mantas Do Brasil, Instituto Laje Viva, Santos, SP, Brazil Author Garrido, Amana Guedes Center of Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, SP, Brazil Author Capel, Katia Cristina Cruz Center of Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, SP, Brazil & Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil Author Loboda, Thiago Silva Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Author Monteiro, Jhonatas Sirino Center of Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, SP, Brazil Author Bruno, Carlos Eduardo Malavasi Departamento de Tecnologia Dos Alimentos, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Author Vaga, Claudia Francesca Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA Author Dove, Alistair D. M. Museum of Science & History, Jacksonville, FL, USA Author Hoopes, Lisa A. IUCN Center for Species Survival, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA, USA Author Perry, Cameron IUCN Center for Species Survival, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA, USA Author Kitahara, Marcelo V. Center of Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, SP, Brazil text Environmental Biology of Fishes 2025 2025-07-23 108 1 35 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-025-01727-2 journal article 311514 10.1007/s10641-025-01727-2 3df32396-68db-4742-ae1f-e484de47f3b3 16739693

Table 5 Percentage of colour criteria analysed for manta ray identification. Criteria in bold highlight the hypothesis of>95% (feature present) and <5% (feature absence) in species distinction characteristics

Criteria	M. birostris	M. alfredi	M. yarae sp. nov
Dorsal
Presence of white supra-branchial patches	100	100	100
White triangular supra-branchial patches extends medially or anterior of spiracle	100	0	56.9
White posterior-facing “hooks” on the lateral supra-branchial patches	98	72.7	89
White supra-branchial patches~ 90° posterior-facing	100	0	0
White supra-branchial patches remain parallel or slightly tapered	100	0	0
Supra-branchial patches do not touch	100	86.5	88.2
Abrupt/sharp transition between white and black dorsal colours	100	1	20.5
Dark line above the mouth	98	18.2	53.7
Eye pattern	95.3	3.3	55.1
White edge on cephalic fins when rolled	100	26.9	23.5
Ventral
Spots only in the abdominal region	75	2	72.6
Dark mouth coloration	98	8.2	3.3
Large/medium spots under 5th gill slits	98	0	43.5
Dark, uniform, V-shaped pectoral fin shading	99	1.1	0
Pectoral shading present but not smooth and uniform	1	9	64.5
Dark mask	73	5.1	1.6
Average number of spots outside abdominal region	1.3	> 20	2.3