In order to evaluate the presence of the giant devil ray in the Adriatic Sea a review of the literature and opportunistic records was carried out, original data was collected at sea, and interviews were carried out with Croatian fishermen. Due to its pelagic distribution, this species is not often observed by researchers and thus referred to as rare. The findings presented here show that giant devil ray has been known to occur in the entire Adriatic Sea since the 19th century. A total of 30 records of 40 animals have been recorded. The species mainly occurs in the central and southern Adriatic Sea from early spring to the beginning of autumn. Its appearance appears to coincide with the general increase of local prey abundance. Interaction with fisheries is identified as a source of potential mortality and multi-gear monitoring schemes should be carried out at regional level. Further research on the distribution and abundance of the giant devil ray is crucial for the elaboration of any effective conservation or management measures.

Biology