• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.148-154
• /
• 2021

Two specimens (1770~1850 mm disc width) of Mobula thurstoni, belonging to the family Myliobatidae, order Myliobatiformes, were first collected from the central coast of the Southern Sea of Korea in September 2018. This species is characterized by an anterior margin of disc with double curvature, a white-tipped dorsal fin, and the absence of a caudal spine. This species is morphologically similar to Mobula kuhlii, but has an anterior margin of pectoral fins with a double curvature and the dorsal coloration is bluish black rather than white. In addition, M. thurstoni was well distinguished from M. kuhlii as determined by mitochondrial DNA 16S rRNA sequences with genetic distances ranging from 0.030 to 0.069. The Korean name 'Mae-kkeun-kko-li-jwi-ga-o-li' is proposed for the species M. thurstoni.