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Researchers have confirmed and documented the presence of a sickle-fin devil ray off the U.S. East Coast for the first time. And have expanded the known range of the giant fish to include the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

 The sicklefin devil ray is an endangered species.  It can grow up to 12 feet wide and dive to depths of 6,000 feet. Ad they are thought to only reproduce one offspring every few years.

Despite being found in pockets of the sea, around the world, their presence had never been officially confirmed in proximity to the United States.

Previously the lack of official records on the rare sea creature made it difficult to track. And over decades it was only seen occasionally.

Researchers from the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), a nonprofit based in Florida, collected sightings from various sources. This includes scuba divers, aerial surveyors, and social media platforms. 

After analyzing the data, they were able to identify “180 sightings and 361 individual sicklefin devil rays gathered between 1996 and 2022 in the waters off the US east coast and the Gulf of Mexico.”

The sicklefin devil ray is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and while their populations appear to be declining, little is known about their biology.

 The fish are often caught unintentionally as part of bycatches and are fished across the globe, particularly in India and Indonesia. 

The discovery of the sicklefin devil ray's presence is significant because it provides up-to-date information on the rays' habitat and helps understand the risks posed by fisheries. It also highlights how incidental sightings and observer data can provide vital knowledge on rare, vulnerable, and difficult-to-study species.

Sicklefin devil ray researched by MMF

Jessica Pate, a research scientist with the MMF noted that “This study demonstrates how non-scientists frequently make crucial observations and contribute to the conservation of endangered species.”

Pate noted that “Many people are unaware that these rays exist; they’ve occasionally been mistaken for manta rays, which are even larger.”

The findings demonstrate the importance of incidental observations and observer data in providing vital knowledge on rare, vulnerable, and difficult-to-study species. The sicklefin devil ray will require time to replenish their populations, according to the report.

 The MMF report highlights the need for up-to-date information on the rays' habitat to better understand how to conserve endangered species.