Manta Ray
Giant filter-feeding rays with wing-like fins and one of the biggest brains of any fish.
Manta rays are huge rays now placed in the genus Mobula, which absorbed the old genus Manta. Three species are recognized: M. birostris, the biggest at 7 m across, M. yarae at 6 m, and M. alfredi at 5.5 m. Each has triangular pectoral fins, horn-like cephalic fins beside a wide, front-facing mouth, and belongs to the eagle ray family Myliobatidae within the Myliobatiformes. Mantas cruise warm temperate, subtropical and tropical seas, straining zooplankton from the water as they swim. They also have one of the largest brain-to-body ratios among fish, with signs of advanced cognition.
Quick Facts
- Scientific name
- Mobula (formerly Manta)
- Max width
- 7 m (M. birostris)
- Diet
- Zooplankton (filter feeder)
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable (IUCN, M. birostris and M. alfredi)
- Max weight
- 1,350 kg / 2,976 lb
Facts from the source article.
Background
The word manta means mantle or blanket in Portuguese and Spanish, after a blanket-shaped trap once used to catch rays, and the horn-like fins earned them the nickname devilfish. Their naming history was tangled: many genus and species names were eventually folded into Manta birostris. Dr Edward Nathaniel Bancroft of Jamaica published the genus name Manta in 1829, and Gerard Krefft named alfredi after Prince Alfred. A 2009 study split the smaller coastal M. alfredi from the ocean-roaming M. birostris, and in 2018 DNA work showed mantas nest inside Mobula. The Atlantic manta ray, Mobula yarae, was formally described in 2025. Mantas descend from bottom-dwelling stingrays, and M. birostris still carries a vestigial tail spine.
Did You Know?
- The only known pink manta ray lives near Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
- M. alfredi has been recorded diving deeper than 400 m.
- Mantas visit cleaning stations to have parasites picked off, and like whales they sometimes leap clear of the water.
- Manta fossils are rare because their cartilage skeletons preserve poorly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big do manta rays get?
M. birostris reaches at least 7 m in width, and mantas can weigh up to 1350 kg.
What do manta rays eat?
They filter large amounts of zooplankton from the water, and much of their diet appears to come from mesopelagic sources.
Are manta rays protected?
They are protected in international waters by the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals but face more risk near shore.
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