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| Credit: Nuno Sa (WHOI website) |
A recent press release from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) presents recent research on Chilean devil rays (Mobula tarapacana) and their deep-diving habits.
Published July 1, 2014, the new study, conducted by WHOI and international colleagues, used satellite tags to collect movement and environmental data of 15 Chilean devil rays in the central North Atlantic Ocean. It was revealed that the devil rays routinely dive to depths of almost 2,000 meters at a rate of up to 6 meters per second. From this information the scientists also identified two types of diving patterns. The first, and most common dive was a descent to the maximum depth followed by a slow return to the surface, with the dive lasting roughly 60-90 minutes. The second type of dive had individuals descending to 1,000 meters and remaining at depth for up to 11 hours before ascending to the surface.
Read the entire press release from WHOI: Tags Reveal Chilean Devil Rays Are Among Ocean's Deepest Divers
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