MANTA RAY

MANTA RAY

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Common Names: Manta Ray, Pacific or Atlantic Manta ray, Devil ray.

Latin Name: Manta birostris

Family: Mobulidae

Identification: Immense size (the largest of all the rays). Terminal mouth has well developed, flexible cephalic fins. Dorsum black or dark often with symmetrical white patches forming a chevron across the shoulders. Wing tips also often fade to white. Ventrum white or pale often with dark symmetrical patches. Single dorsal fin anterior to tail. Tail thin and less than body length

Size: Maximum width 6.7m. Disc width at birth 1.2m. Unsubstantiated reports stretch up to 9m.

Habitat: Oceanic offshore waters. A regular visitor to sea mounts and off shore islands where plankton is forced to the warmer surface layers.

Abundance and distribution: Circumtropical and less commonly circumtemperate. I have one report from as far north as Vancouver island in Canada from the 1960's.

Behavior: Usually seen where plankton is concentrated. Unrolls its cephalic fins and uses them as a scoop for funnelling plankton. Sometimes somersaults in the water column when feeding. May breach perhaps to rid itself of parasites. Seen singly or in aggregations where food (plankton) is abundant. "Warm blooded" i.e. able to control its body temperature relative to that of the waters in which it feeds. This may be a tool for maintaining constant muscle function whilst moving in and out of thermoclines. Has been known to travel long distances and congregate for coral or fish spawning.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous. Gives birth to one or two pups.

Observations: Often has a remora above and behind each eye.

Photographs: Koh Bon, Koh Similan (Thailand).

Similar species: Manta birostris was once thought to be split into regional subspecies but the genus has been revised to include just the one species. Manta populations may have regionally consistant markings.

Reaction to divers: Curious, often approaching divers and in some areas allowing contact (belly rubbing) which it seems to enjoy. Will sometimes play (somersault) in the divers bubbles. Moves away when pursued. Will tolerate riding for short periods but this behaviour from divers is not encouraged! Mantas come to plankton rich seamounts to feed and if stressed and forced to leave this impacts on their ability to get the sustenance they need.

Diving logistics: This is a commonly seen ray in various locations around the tropics. It can be seasonally encountered by divers in the many areas but places in which mantas are specifically sought after include the Andaman sea islands of Thailand (from Hin Maeng to Burma). Yap and Palau, Hawaii, Sea of Cortez, and many other places. In Thailand day trip or live-aboard dive vessels take divers out of Phuket to reach these islands. Whale sharks enjoying the same seasonal food source are sometimes jointly encountered.

Other diving locations submitted by readers:

Further reading:

Reef Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.

Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.

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