Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
- Group
- Shark & ray
- Habitat
- Open water
- Max size
- 7.0 m
- Family
- Mobulidae
The giant oceanic manta ray, giant manta ray, oceanic manta ray, or pelagic manta ray is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae and the largest type of ray in the world. It is circumglobal and is typically found in tropical and subtropical waters but can also be found in temperate waters. Until 2017, the species was classified in the genus Manta, along with the smaller reef manta ray. DNA testing revealed that both mantas are closer related to some Mobula species than these are to other Mobula, being claded together. As a result, the two Manta species were absorbed into Mobula to reflect the new classification.
Adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Behaviour
Larger than the reef manta and far more oceanic; encounters are usually in blue water off a steep drop-off rather than on the reef itself.