#Mason manta rays facts Patch

Mantas are targeted for the gill plates, which they use to filter feed on small Plankton. Humans are the biggest threat to Manta Rays, largely due to overfishing and being caught and entangled in fishing nets.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has announced that the Manta Ray now joins 16,000 other species on the Red List of Threatened Species. Not only that, but they are social animals that exhibit behaviors such as playing and foraging. It’s though that this large brain is part of the reason why they are so inquisitive, and allow humans to come so close to them. The Manta Ray has the largest brain-to-body weight ratio of any living fish, making it a rather smart animal. The furthest north a Manta Ray has been spotted was near South Carolina in the US, and the southernmost recorded was around New Zealand. Indonesia, Thailand, Spain, The Maldives, and Australia are all among the best places in the world to spot Mantas in the wild. Manta Rays have been spotted both north and south of the equator, but there are some places they like to gather. Manta Rays Are Found In Tropical And Subtropical Waters Mantas have been spotted leaping out of the water in groups for hours at a time, it’s a spectacular performance. The most likely reason is to escape predators, give birth, and shake off parasites. Scientists are still baffled as to the reason why Manta Rays jump out of the water and put on an exceptional display. The forward motion from swimming pushes water over their gills which they use to extract oxygen, so when they are not swimming they are not getting any oxygen. This means that Mantas never stop swimming, and they need to stay on the move to survive. Manta Rays belong to a group of fish that are in a “constant state of perpetual motion”.

There are some amazing resorts that you can visit to spot Mantas in the wild, such as the Manta Ray Island Resort. This means the best place to witness them is in the wild. That is as much as a Giraffe or a White Rhino! Due to their large size, they are not often seen in Aquariums and very few can hold them. Manta Rays are much larger than you may think, with some having a wingspan of up to 7-feet and weighing up to two tons! Manta Rays Are Among The Largest Animals In The Ocean If a Manta Ray feels threatened or in danger whilst around you, they will flee the scene at speeds of up to 24/km/h. They do have around 300 tiny teeth, but they certainly aren’t sharp enough to penetrate your skin. Unlike their Sting-Ray cousins, they do not have a stinger, and really don’t have any way of hurting you. Manta Rays Are HarmlessĪlthough Manta Rays look like they are dangerous, they are in fact harmless. They will glide by large schools of Plankton and scoop them up with their mouths wide open.įrom there, they can filter out the food, and get rid of anything that they do not want to feed on. These beautiful rays are filter feeders, which means they feed on tiny crustaceans such as Plankton and Segmented worms. A good rule of thumb to follow is to not pick up or touch anything that lives in the ocean. This is why Rays and other fish feel slimy to the touch, and it’s not helpful to pick them up or touch them. This is why it’s a big no-no to touch Manta Rays in the wild, as doing so will remove this protective mucous film.

Manta Rays are covered in a mucous film that protects them from harmful bacteria, and if it gets removed it can leave the ray open to illness and damage their immune system. In this post, we’re going to go through 9 interesting manta ray facts that you may, or may not already know. Witnessing such an enormous ray glide through the ocean effortlessly is enough to get any diver hooked. The Manta Ray is one of the most fascinating and majestic sea creatures that live on planet earth.Ī sighting and experience with one in the wild is a breathtaking experience that often stays with divers forever.

#Mason manta rays facts Patch

Marine Patch offers some interesting facts about manta rays. Join us on our manta ray tours for a bucket list experience to view the magnificent manta ray in it’s own habitat! It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime activity that you’ll never forget.