Giant manta
| Manta ray Temporal range: 23–0 Ma Early Miocene to present |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Manta alfredi at Dharavandhoo, Maldives | |
 |
|
| Manta birostris at Hin Daeng, Thailand | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Order: | Myliobatiformes |
| Family: | Myliobatidae |
| Subfamily: | Mobulinae |
| Genus: |
Manta Bancroft, 1829 |
| Type species | |
|
Cephalopterus manta Bancroft, 1829 |
|
| Species | |
 |
|
| Range of manta rays | |
Manta alfredi
Manta birostris
†Manta hynei
Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus Manta. The larger species, M. birostris, reaches 7 m (23 ft 0 in) in width while the smaller, M. alfredi, reaches 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in). Both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths. They are classified among the Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) and are placed in the family Myliobatidae (eagle rays).
Mantas are found in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters. Both species are pelagic; M. birostris migrates across open oceans, singly or in groups, while M. alfredi tends to be resident and coastal. They are filter feeders and eat large quantities of zooplankton, which they swallow with their open mouths as they swim. Gestation lasts over a year and mantas give birth to live pups. Mantas may visit cleaning stations for the removal of parasites. Like whales, they breach, for unknown reasons.
...
Wikipedia