Abstract

A single specimen of Mobula birostris (4,215 mm disc width), belonging to the family Mobulidae (Myliobatiformes), was collected from Jeju-do, South Korea, in September 1998. This species is characterized by a white pattern on the dorsal side of the disc, a broad mouth on the terminal side of the head, and a calcified mass on the base of the tail. This species is similar to M. alfredi and M. yarae. However, it could be distinguished from M. alfredi by the shape of the white shoulder patches and the presence of a calcified mass, and from M. yarae by the shape of the white shoulder patches and coloration around the mouth. Additionally, this species is similar to M. japanica and M. thurstoni, which have been reported in Korea, but differs in the position of the mouth. We therefore suggest a Korean name for M. birostris as 'Dae-wang-jwi-ga-o-ri'.