If you have been out on a boat in the Gulf de Papagayo of Costa Rica, you may have witnessed a strange creature leaping from the water and coming down with a loud splash.
It could be a dolphin but chances are that what you have witnessed is in fact a devil ray. The devil ray as it is commonly called is actually part of the mobula family of rays. There are several species in this family most of which are known to breach. There breaching is a source of much debate in the marine biologist community. There are several different opinions or theories on what makes the mobulas jump, however, there remains no steadfast evidence that definitively settles the debate.
Theories regarding this odd behavior vary widely. One of the wider spread theories is that these devil rays perform this jumping ritual to remove parasites from their skin.
Other theories suggest that it could be a form of mating ritual or simply showing off. There is also the opinion that these rays could possibly be breaching by complete accident.
Devil rays are incredibly fast, as they have no other form of defense other than their speed and agility. They can manipulate their bodies in the water with ease to both escape predators and catch a meal. Devil rays in Costa Rica have been witnessed to make up to 3 flips in one single jump that can reach up to 2 metres above the water.
Mobulas, or devil rays, can travel in huge schools that can number in the thousands. If you are diving in Costa Rica there is a chance that you could possibly witness one of these schools that are truly magnificent and beautiful. When the rays find an area rich with food, they make sure to share the grub with the group. These jumping fish make us want to leap for joy! All rights reserved.
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