Giant Manta Ray
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
An awesome fish, up to 910 cm wide (30 ft). Jackie Reid/NOAA
[edit] Overview
A huge creature, harmless to humans and easily approached by divers, the Giant Manta Ray is one of the truly awe-inspiring marine animals.
The largest recorded size is 910 cm (29.9 ft) from wingtip to wingtip, with a weight of 3,000 kg (6,613 lbs).
Found in globally in tropical and subtropical waters, as well as in the warm currents off the Pacific NW coast of the US and Canada.
Family: Myliobatidae
Other common name(s):
- Giant Manta
- Devilray
Native range:
Habitat: According to Fishbase: Found "mainly in near-shore waters, near coral and rocky reefs; sometimes found over deep water. Penetrates shallow muddy bays and the intertidal and occurs off river mouths. Pelagic. Occurs singly or in loose aggregations." Fishbase Profile.
Maximum length: 910 cm (358 in)
Water: Marine -
General swimming level: Open water.
[edit] Feeding
Primarily feed on plankton, but also takes small fishes.
[edit] Notes
Populations of Giant Manta Rays are considered highly vulnerable, threatened by overfishing and losses of animals taken as by-catch in tuna gillnet fisheries.
| Common name | Giant Manta Ray +, Giant Manta +, and Devilray + |
| Family | Myliobatidae + |
| Genus | Manta + |
| Maximum length | 358 in + |
| Native range | Circumtropical +, Bermuda +, Florida +, Bahamas +, Caribbean +, South America +, Africa +, Tanzania +, Red Sea +, and Australia + |
| Reference | Fishbase + |
| Specific name | birostris + |
| Swimming level | Open water. + |
| Water type | Marine + |