Rare sighting of spinetail devil rays off the San Diego coast

Four spinetail devil rays were spotted off the San Diego coast on the morning of Sept. 10, and then 10 more were observed in the same area on Sept. 13, according to a Fox5/KUSI report. The species, known scientifically as Mobula mobular, was listed as critically endangered on the 2025 IUCN Red List. Low numbers are linked to bycatch—marine animals caught unintentionally in other fisheries—and a slow reproductive rate. The rays are rarely seen this far north, with most sightings reported around Baja and the Gulf of California. Warmer El Niño waters can bring subtropical and tropical plankton and fish, which the rays feed on, often in groups.