Giant oceanic manta ray

Mobula birostris · The giant oceanic manta ray is the largest ray in the world, found in tropical, subtropical and sometimes temperate waters around the globe.

Also called Giant manta ray, Oceanic manta ray, Chevron Manta Ray, Pacific Manta Ray, Pelagic Manta Ray.

Giant oceanic manta ray
Photo: Daniel Sasse, CC BY-SA 4.0
Giant oceanic manta ray
Photo: Arturo de Frias Marques, CC BY-SA 4.0
Giant oceanic manta ray
Photo: Elias Levy, CC BY 2.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassChondrichthyes
OrderMyliobatiformes
FamilyMobulidae
GenusMobula
SpeciesMobula birostris

Where it lives

Tropical and subtropical open seas worldwide, often near offshore islands and seamounts.

Fun facts

  • It has the largest brain of any fish, weighing up to 200 g, and it might even pass the mirror test, a sign of self-awareness.
  • A giant oceanic manta ray can grow up to 9 m long and weigh around 3,000 kg.
  • It can never settle on the seabed to rest, because it must swim nonstop to push water over its gills so it can breathe.
  • Mantas visit coral reef cleaning stations, hovering almost still while cleaner fish eat loose skin and parasites off them.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).