Copyright : Pierre Léo Paul
They caused a stir this summer—unfortunately, because they were often found stranded on the beaches of Occitania and the French Riviera.
We’re talking about devil fish, also known as Mobula rays.
The Giant Devil Ray in the Med
They look a lot like manta rays, but unlike their tropical cousins, they’re right at home in the Mediterranean.
These open-water dwellers sometimes leap out of the sea if you’re lucky enough to spot them, or more discreetly, you might notice a fin breaking the surface. They may approach boats and glide silently beneath the waves in small groups, leaving those who catch a glimpse absolutely mesmerized.
How to recognize them?
The giant devil ray (Mobula mobular) is listed as endangered by the IUCN, yet it currently has no protective measures in place.
You can identify it thanks to a few distinctive features: a wingspan of up to 3.5 meters, a white abdomen, a dark gray back, a dark band across the back of the head, and most striking of all, its two cephalic lobes that look like horns—the feature that gave it the name “devil ray.”
Copyright : Ailerons
The Film
Since 2019, the AILERONS association has been carrying out scientific missions to study and protect them, and it has just released its first documentary film, chronicling the quest to better understand this still little-known species. When William and Matthieu first set sail from the port of Ajaccio aboard a catamaran with a team of enthusiasts, they had no idea just how far this extraordinary adventure would take them!
MOBULA: The Legend of the Devils, a film by Pierre Léo Paul and Pierre-Etienne Larrous, takes you deep into devil ray expeditions, following the search for a mysterious group whose very existence is debated by experts—but which could transform our understanding of the species.
As you watch the film, let yourself be amazed by the stunning Corsican landscapes it showcases—places you might even stumble upon yourself one day, while at anchor.
Where to see the film?
Upcoming screenings on September 26 in Ensuès-la-Redonne and October 7 at Planet Ocean Montpellier.
September 26: open-air screening at 7 p.m., followed by a discussion with part of the film team.
October 7: screening followed by a discussion with part of the film team.
Elasmed
Have you spotted a giant devil ray?
Report your sighting on ELASMED, the citizen science observatory run by AILERONS, and help advance scientific research!
The data gathered through citizen participation, combined with AILERONS’ own expeditions, led in 2023 to the IUCN officially recognizing a 4,200 km² area off Corsica as an ISRA (Important Shark and Ray Area)—an internationally acknowledged zone vital to the conservation of this species.
Observation form: https://www.asso-ailerons.fr/formulaire-dobservation/
If you see a devil ray in distress, near a port or beach, contact AILERONS so a rescue operation can be set up.
Contact: William Travers – +33 06 76 36 51 32
