{"title":"‘Flash Mobula’: first observations of courtship behaviour of the shortfin devil ray Mobula kuhlii","authors":"M. Carpenter, C. Griffiths","doi":"10.2989/1814232X.2022.2158131","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"First-time observations of courtship behaviour of the Endangered shortfin devil ray Mobula kuhlii are described from the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area (MPA), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Three events of M. kuhlii courtship, called ‘mating trains’, were recorded on video during the months of November 2020 and January 2021. These included a near-term pregnant female, and two lead females followed by up to four males. The common behaviours associated with courtship were documented: multiple males following a single female, rapid speed bursts, avoidance of the female, and swerving. This study confirms that M. kuhlii mating occurs in KwaZulu-Natal waters and that courtship is similar across mobulids. The findings demonstrate the importance of the habitat provided by the Aliwal Shoal MPA for this currently unprotected species.","PeriodicalId":7719,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Marine Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2023-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"3","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"African Journal of Marine Science","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2022.2158131","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MARINE & FRESHWATER BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 3
Abstract
First-time observations of courtship behaviour of the Endangered shortfin devil ray Mobula kuhlii are described from the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area (MPA), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Three events of M. kuhlii courtship, called ‘mating trains’, were recorded on video during the months of November 2020 and January 2021. These included a near-term pregnant female, and two lead females followed by up to four males. The common behaviours associated with courtship were documented: multiple males following a single female, rapid speed bursts, avoidance of the female, and swerving. This study confirms that M. kuhlii mating occurs in KwaZulu-Natal waters and that courtship is similar across mobulids. The findings demonstrate the importance of the habitat provided by the Aliwal Shoal MPA for this currently unprotected species.
期刊介绍：
The African (formerly South African) Journal of Marine Science provides an international forum for the publication of original scientific contributions or critical reviews, involving oceanic, shelf or estuarine waters, inclusive of oceanography, studies of organisms and their habitats, and aquaculture. Papers on the conservation and management of living resources, relevant social science and governance, or new techniques, are all welcomed, as are those that integrate different disciplines. Priority will be given to rigorous, question-driven research, rather than descriptive research. Contributions from African waters, including the Southern Ocean, are particularly encouraged, although not to the exclusion of those from elsewhere that have relevance to the African context. Submissions may take the form of a paper or a short communication. The journal aims to achieve a balanced representation of subject areas but also publishes proceedings of symposia in dedicated issues, as well as guest-edited suites on thematic topics in regular issues.
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