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Marine Life Encyclopedia

Sharks & Rays

Giant Manta Ray

Mobula birostris

Distribution

Worldwide in tropical to warm temperate latitudes

ECOSYSTEM/HABITAT

Coastal to open ocean (pelagic)

FEEDING HABITS

Filter feeder

TAXONOMY

Order Myliobatiformes (stingrays and relatives), Family Mobulidae (mantas)

The giant manta ray is the largest ray and one of the largest fishes in the world. Reaching widths of up to 29 feet (8.8 m), the manta rays are much larger than any other ray species. For many decades, there was only one known species of manta, but scientists recently divided that species into two: the giant manta ray, which is a more oceanic species; and the reef manta ray, which is more coastal in nature.

Despite their very large size, giant mantas are similar to the largest fishes (whale shark and basking shark) and the largest mammals (blue whale) in that they eat tiny plankton. They constantly swim along with their large mouths open, filtering plankton and other small food from the water. To aid in this strategy, giant mantas have specialized flaps, known as cephalic lobes, which help direct more water and food into their mouths.

Giant manta rays are found worldwide in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters and are commonly seen offshore, in oceanic waters, and near productive coastlines. Giant mantas are known to undergo long migrations and may visit colder waters for short periods of the year. Although giant mantas are typically solitary animals, they do aggregate to feed and mate. Giant manta rays have one of the lowest fecundity of all elasmobranchs, typically only giving birth to one pup every two to three years. Due to their broad range and sparse distribution across the world’s oceans, there are still gaps in scientists’ knowledge of giant manta ray’s life history. There are reports of giant mantas living to at least 40 years, but little is known about their growth and development.

The most significant threat to giant manta rays is commercial fishing, both being targeted and caught as bycatch. Although conservation measures have been adapted in many places, demand for manta and other mobula rays’ gill rakers has increased dramatically in Asian markets. Fortunately, their interest to SCUBA divers and other tourism operations makes them more valuable alive than to fishers. This development may afford the giant manta more protection, but their value as meat and for traditional medicinal purposes continue to pose a risk to this species. Therefore, it is important for scientists to continue to monitor giant manta population trends to ensure that they do not continue to decline and to determine if other localized species might exist.

Fun Facts About Giant Manta Rays

1. Giant manta rays are the largest rays in the world with wingspans up to 29 feet (8.8 m) wide and weights up to 5,300 pounds (2,404 kg).

2. Manta rays are the only vertebrate animals with three paired appendages: two wing-like pectoral fins; two sets of gills; and two lobes that extend from the mouth and funnel in water.

3. Giant manta rays sometimes do somersaults (barrel rolls) while feeding to maximize their prey intake.

4. Giant manta rays can dive more than 3,280 feet (1,000 m) underwater, but typically feed only 33 feet (10 m) deep.

5. Giant manta rays give birth to one pup every 2 to 3 years.

6. Giant manta rays can live up to 40 years.1

7. Giant manta rays have the biggest brains of any fish studied so far.2 They use that brain power to learn, exercise their memory, distinguish between objects and even recognize themselves in the mirror.3

References:

1 NOAA Fisheries

2 The Open Anatomy Journal

3 Journal of Ethology

IUCN Red List

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