Manta ray Facts

About the manta ray

Three species are known. M. birostris is the biggest at 7 m (23 ft) wide, M. yarae reaches 6 m (20 ft) and M. alfredi is the smallest at 5.5 m (18 ft). Among fish, mantas rank near the top for brain size relative to body size, show advanced thinking and may recognize themselves in mirrors. They live in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical seas.

Mantas swim with mouths open to strain zooplankton, though research says most of their food comes from the ocean's middle depths. The two larger species cross open oceans alone or in groups, while M. alfredi stays near coasts. Pregnancy lasts over a year, ending in live pups. Mantas visit cleaning stations to get parasites removed, and like whales, they leap out of the water for reasons nobody knows.

Did you know?

• Manta rays used to have their own genus, Manta, before moving to Mobula.
• Manta gill plates are traded internationally, which threatens the species.
• Two manta species are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.