These rays live in shallow, warm waters and can be found in shoals of up to 40 individuals, although more often ranging between 2 and 10.

[5] The related Mobula rochebrunei has occasionally been recovered as a junior synonym of M. hypostoma, extending the species' range to the eastern Atlantic.

[6] They mostly feed on zooplankton such as small crustaceans, although they can occasionally eat schooling fish, using their cephalic horns to funnel prey into their mouth.

They have forward-facing cephalic horns, while their long spineless tails distinguish them from their relatives M.

[4][5] Dorsal coloration varies from light brown to black, although some specimens have been reported as blue.