They have an enormous wingspan of up over 8.5 meters (about 29 feet) and can weigh up to 2.4 tons (5,300 lbs). Mantas are one of the largest fish species in the ocean. On top of all of that, they are able to map their underwater environment by using sight and smell. Manta rays can also pass the mirror test, a test used to determine whether an animal possesses the ability of visual self-recognition. Like elephants, dolphins, and apes, they have shown high levels of intelligence and long-term memory ability. Manta rays have one of the largest brain-to-body ratios of any fish. They also have two fins shaped like horns sticking up from their heads, which led to manta rays being given the nickname “Devil Fish.” It perfectly describes the appearance of the animal's large, flat, diamond-shaped bodies, which are symbolized by triangle-shaped pectoral fins. The name “Manta” comes from the Spanish language and means "blanket" or "cloak". Let’s quell some of those unwarranted fears with 10 fun facts about these majestic ocean creatures. Don’t fret though, because manta rays don’t actually pose any threat to humans. They also happen to be related to another popular ocean creature… sharks! Rays, sharks and skates are all known as elasmobranchs because they have skeletons made out of cartilage instead of the usual bone.ĭue to the relation to their toothy cousins (and to the stingray) people can mistake manta rays for scary predators. Normally the giant manta only gets one or two pups measuring around 120 cm when they are born.Manta rays are one of the most unique and eye-catching animals on planet earth. Like many shark species, the giant manta is ovoviviparous, which means it develops and hatches eggs within the uterus after which the pups are born. Longevity of this species is estimated to exceed 40 years. These lengths at maturity correspond to an age of approximately 8 to 10 years. Like many other shark and ray species, the giant manta reaches sexual maturity at a relatively large size, 380-410 cm for females and 360-380 cm for males. the distance between the tips of both pectoral fins) of 700 cm, but anecdotal evidence suggests that this species can grow up to 910 cm disc width. The two manta ray species, together with the mobula rays, differ from other rays by the position of their mouth, which is located on the front side of the head, whereas on other rays the mouth is positioned more ventrally. The giant manta ray can reach a maximum size/disc width (i.e. The giant manta is thought to live a more solitary lifestyle than the smaller reef manta. The species often aggregates in groups to feed, mate, or to be cleaned of parasites by smaller reef fish. Mantas often show seasonal patterns in their movements and can undertake seasonal migrations of more than 1,100 km. Although mainly residing in shallow waters, the giant manta can also dive to great depths exceeding 1,000 meters. It can also be encountered in sub-tropical waters and mainly occurs in regions with frequent upwelling, islands or seamounts. The giant manta has a so-called circumtropical distribution, meaning it occurs in all tropical waters of the world’s oceans (between 40° North and South).
For this reason, and because the remaining threat of the gill plate trade, all manta rays are listed on Appendix II of CITES (the international organization that regulates the trade in endangered species).
According to the IUCN, the current status of the giant manta is ‘vulnerable’, which means its populations are declining and the species is at risk of becoming threatened in the near future.
These plates are the most valuable part of the animal, as they are believed to have medicinal properties. In Asia, the species is also targeted for its large gill plates, which are dried and sold separately from the meat and liver oil. The rays are often caught accidentally as bycatch in fisheries. This species grows larger compared to the reef manta ( Manta alfredi) and has different coloration patterns and a calcified lump with embedded spine behind the dorsal fin. Unfortunately, like many other shark and ray species, populations of the giant manta ray are still in decline. A relatively rare visitor to the waters of the Dutch Caribbean is the giant manta ray, the largest of all ray species.