‘Flash <i>Mobula</i>’: first observations of courtship behaviour of the shortfin devil ray <i>Mobula kuhlii</i>

First-time observations of courtship behaviour of the Endangered shortfin devil ray <i>Mobula kuhlii</i> are described from the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area (MPA), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Three events of <i>M. kuhlii</i> courtship, called ‘mating trains’, were recorded on video during the months of November 2020 and January 2021. These included a near-term pregnant female, and two lead females followed by up to four males. The common behaviours associated with courtship were documented: multiple males following a single female, rapid speed bursts, avoidance of the female, and swerving. This study confirms that <i>M. kuhlii</i> mating occurs in KwaZulu-Natal waters and that courtship is similar across mobulids. The findings demonstrate the importance of the habitat provided by the Aliwal Shoal MPA for this currently unprotected species.本研究首次报道了南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省阿里瓦尔沙洲海洋保护区（MPA）内濒危短鳍魔鬼鳐（Mobula kuhlii）的求偶行为观测结果。2020年11月至2021年1月期间，通过视频共记录到3起该物种的求偶事件，此类行为被称为“交配列队”。观测对象包含1只妊娠晚期的怀孕雌性，以及2只领头雌性，其后方最多跟随4只雄性个体。研究记录了该物种求偶过程中的典型行为：多只雄性尾随单只雌性、快速冲刺、躲避雌性以及急转弯。本研究证实，短鳍魔鬼鳐的交配行为发生在夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省海域，且其求偶行为与其他蝠鲼科物种具有较高相似性。研究结果凸显了阿里瓦尔沙洲海洋保护区所提供的栖息环境，对于这一目前尚未受到保护的物种的重要性。