Atlantic devil ray vs Buckelwal

Mobula hypostoma compared with Megaptera novaeangliae

Key Differences

• Atlantic devil ray is Endangered while Buckelwal is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Atlantic devil ray	Buckelwal
Kingdom same	Animalia (حيوانات)	Animalia (حيوانات)
Phylum same	Chordata (حبليات)	Chordata (حبليات)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Mammalia (ثدييات)
Order	Myliobatiformes (لخمة بهشية)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Myliobatidae	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)
Genus	Mobula	Megaptera (Humpback Whales)
Species	Mobula hypostoma	Megaptera novaeangliae

Evolutionary Relationship

Atlantic devil ray and Buckelwal share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (حبليات)

Conservation Status

Atlantic devil ray

EN — Endangered

Buckelwal

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~80.0K

Trend: Increasing ↑

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Atlantic devil ray	Buckelwal
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	15.0 m
Average Weight	—	30.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Atlantic devil ray

Buckelwal

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Atlantic devil ray

The Atlantic devil ray (Mobula hypostoma) is a species in the genus Mobula. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Buckelwal

Among the most acrobatic of the great whales, humpback whales are renowned for their complex, haunting songs sung by males during breeding season — some lasting hours and evolving over time. Reaching 16 meters and 30 tonnes, they undertake the longest migrations of any mammal. Found in all oceans, humpbacks feed on krill and small fish using cooperative bubble-net feeding. Populations have largely recovered from historic whaling.