Revised 22 Feb. 2023
PDF version (illustrated and with additional information)

Mobula Rafinesque 1810 probably based on Raia mobular, which Rafinesque unnecessarily replaced with Mobula auriculata [for etymology, see Mobula mobular]

Mobula alfredi (Krefft 1868) in honor of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (1844–1900), who was visiting Sydney at the time this “royal fish” was caught and posed for photographs with it [name was anonymously published, later attributed to Krefft; per ICZN 51.2, authorship should be given as “(Anonymous [Krefft] 1868)” but no one is following that convention in the current literature]

Mobula birostris (Walbaum 1792) bi-, from bis (L.), two; rostris, Neo-Latin scientific adjective of rostrum (L.), snout, referring to its two hornlike flaps (i.e., cephalic fins)

Mobula eregoodoo (Cantor 1849) from Eregoodoo Tenkee, vernacular name used near Coromandel (southeast India) for mobulid rays

Mobula hypostoma (Bancroft 1831) hypó (Gr. ὑπό), less than, under or beneath; stóma (Gr. στόμα), mouth, referring to its ventral mouth (a diagnostic feature of Mobula)

Mobula kuhlii (Valenciennes 1841) in honor of German zoologist Heinrich Kuhl (1797–1821), who died while collecting fauna and flora in Java; his collections, drawings and manuscripts provided material for Valenciennes and other naturalists [authorship often attributed to Müller & Henle, who published Valenciennes’ description]

Mobula mobular (Bonnaterre 1788) of uncertain origin but three explanations have been proffered: 1) from mobilis (L.), mobile, referring to its migratory habits; 2) since Rafinesque in proposing Mobula mentioned an Italian vernacular, Tavila cornuta (“horned table”), perhaps an allusion to what some Romance languages refer to as “moveables” or nonfixed furnishings, therefore comparing the ray to a large piece of furniture (e.g., table) that moves; 3) a name locally used in the Azores Islands

Mobula munkiana Notarbartolo-di-Sciara 1987 –ana (L.), belonging to: Walter H. Munk (1917–2019), Scripps Institution of Oceanography, “oceanographer extraordinary [sic], and friend”

Mobula tarapacana (Philippi 1892) –ana (L.), belonging to: 12 miles west of Iquique, Tarapacà Province, Chile, type locality

Mobula thurstoni (Lloyd 1908) in honor of Edgar Thurston (1855–1935), superintendent of the Government Museum, Madras, India, who provided Lloyd the opportunity to examine specimens from the museum’s collection