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 3 Morphometric measurements of Mobula yarae sp. nov. specimens. The measurements were expressed in millimetres (mm) and percentage of disc length (% DL), along with the respective range, average, and standard deviation (sd) for each morphometric variable

	Holotype (M10) USNM 443866 USA Female		MZUSP 129738/ColBIO fish00213 (M1) Brazil Female		MCZ 37005 (M9) Bahamas Male		M11 USA Female		Range		Mean		sd
	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL
Disc length	1130.0	100.0	1090.0	100.0	1548.6	100.0	1680.0	100.0
Disc width	2480.0	219.5			3480.0	224.7	3760.0	223.8	2480–3760	219.4–224.7	3240.0	222.7	672.9	2.8
Anterior projection	590.0	52.2							590.0	52.2
Pre-dorsal length	970.0	85.8							970.0	85.8
Dorsal fin base	140.0	12.4	150.0	13.8	184.4	11.9	240.0	14.3	140–240	11.9–14.3	178.6	13.1	45.1	1.1
Dorsal fin height	128.0	11.3	90.0	8.3	145.7	9.4	144.0	8.6	90–145.7	8.2–11.3	126.9	9.4	25.9	1.4
Dorsal fin anterior margin	189.7	16.7	135.0	12.4	175.2	11.3			135–189.7	11.3–16.7	166.6	13.5	28.3	2.9
Cranial width	602.0	53.3	600.0	55.0	863.0	55.7	980.0	58.3	600–980	53.3–58.3	761.3	55.6	191.1	2.1
Interspiracle distance	520.0	46.0	509.0	46.7	723.8	46.7			509–723.8	46.0–46.7	584.3	46.5	121.0	0.4
Spiracle length			29.0	2.7	55.6	3.6			29–55.6	2.7–3.6	42.3	3.1	18.8	0.7
Cephalic fin length	250.0	22.1	300.0	27.5					250–300	22.1–27.5	275.0	24.8	35.4	3.8
Cephalic fin width	130.0	11.5	130.0	11.9			210.0	12.5	130–210	11.5–12.5	156.7	12.0	46.2	0.5
Mouth width	350.0	31.0	410.0	37.6	518.5	33.5	630.0	37.5	350–630	31.0–37.6	477.1	34.9	123.5	3.2
Internarial distance	338.0	29.9	360.0	33.0	490.6	31.7	560.0	33.3	338–560	29.9–33.3	437.2	32.0	106.0	1.6
Rostrum to 1st gill slit	202.0	17.9	170.0	15.6					170–202	15.6–17.9	186.0	16.7	22.6	1.6
Rostrum to 5th gill slit	460.0	40.7	440.0	40.4					440–460	40.4–40.7	450.0	40.5	14.1	0.2
Distance between 1st gill slits	252.0	22.3	260.0	23.9	375.8	24.3			252–375.8	22.3–24.3	295.9	23.5	69.3	1.0
Distance between 5th gill slits	120.0	10.6	120.0	11.0	177.4	11.5			120–177.4	10.6–11.5	139.1	11.0	33.1	0.4
1 st gill slit length	232.0	20.5	245.0	22.5	341.0	22.0			232–341.0	20.5–22.5	272.7	21.7	59.6	1.0
2nd gill slit length	236.0	20.9	254.0	23.3	351.5	22.7			236–351.5	20.9–23.3	280.5	22.3	62.1	1.3
3rd gill slit length	244.0	21.6	240.0	22.0	341.0	22.0			240–341.0	21.6–22.0	275.0	21.9	57.2	0.2
4th gill slit length	222.0	19.6	215.0	19.7	306.2	19.8			215–306.2	19.6–19.8	247.7	19.7	50.8	0.1
5th gill slit length	180.0	15.9	170.0	15.6	243.6	15.7			170–243.6	15.6–15.9	197.9	15.8	39.9	0.2
Pectoral length 1	980.0	86.7							980.0
Pectoral length 2	1294.0	114.5							1294.0
Pectoral length 3	968.0	85.7							968.0
Tail length	1272.0	111.7	1085.0	99.5	1308.5	84.5	1420.0	84.5	1085–1420	84.5–111.7	1271.4	95.1	139.3	13.2
Tail height	32.0	2.8	20.0	1.8					20–32	1.8–2.8	26.0	2.3	8.5	0.7
	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL	mm	% DL
Tail width	48.0	4.2	15.0	1.4					15– 48	1.4 – 4.2	31.5	2.8	23.3	2.0
Pre-cloacal distance	916.0	81.1			1270.2	82.0			916 – 1270.2	81.1 – 82.0	1093.1	81.5	250.5	0.7
Rostrum to pelvic fin	1156.0	102.3							1156.0	102.3
Pelvic fin length	264.0	23.4	300.0	27.5			250.0	14.9	250 –300	14.9 – 27.5	271.3	21.9	25.8	6.4
Pelvic fin anterior margin	123.0	10.9							123.0
Width across pelvic fin base	182.0	16.1	140.0	12.8	215.7	13.9			140 – 215.7	12.8 – 16.1	179.2	14.3	37.9	1.7
Lower tooth band length	270.0	23.9	260.0	23.9					260– 270	23.9 – 23.9	265.0	23.9	7.1	0.0
Head length	330.0	29.2	370.0	33.9					330– 370	29.2 – 33.9	350.0	31.6	28.3	3.4
Diameter of eye	18.0	1.6	30.0	2.8	55.6	3.6			18 – 55.6	1.6 – 3.6	34.5	2.6	19.2	1.0
Caudal bulb			45.0	4.1	70.0	4.5			45 –70	4.1 – 4.5	57.5	4.3	17.7	0.3