Our phylogenomics study of manta and devil rays is out now in @molecology.

This was a big collaboration & many years of work.

See below for more.

https://bit.ly/2Ua8EyC 

#ConGen #manta @EdinburghUni @roslininstitute @MantaTrust

We generated genomic data for over 100 individuals from almost 20 sites around the world to explore lineage diversity & examine species units in manta and devil rays

Our results support previous findings that mantas are nested within mobulas, as well as the recent resurrection of the longhorned pygmy devil ray

We also present the first genomic evidence for a putative new species of manta ray in the Gulf of Mexico. This lineage has been hypothesised for a long time.

We dived deeper to look at variation within species and detected population structure in reef mantas, shorthorned pygmy devil rays & spinetail devil rays! We hope our findings support future management of these amazing species.

Thanks to co-author Jane Hosegood & all other collaborators including @MantaTrust @BangorUni @blue_resources @lamaveproject & too many others to mention, all sample providers, manuscript reviewers and funders, especially @NERCscience @saveourseas & @PTES