Manta ray

Giant Manta (Manta birostris )

The genus of the manta ray (Manta ) belongs to the family of eagle rays ( Myliobatidae ) to the subfamily of Devil Rays ( Mobulinae ). It occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas near the coast to a depth of 150 meters in front. The animals can be five to nine feet long and three tons. Both species are ovoviviparous and harmless to humans.

A manta has to eat every day up to 14 percent of its body weight in plankton and small fish.

Features

Manta Rays are five to nine meters in length (including the tail ). They are the largest rays. Your broad head contributes to both sides movable, slightly drooping and front rounded head fins, which serve to guide plankton in the big mouth. Your big mouth is terminal and busy usually only in the lower jaw with small teeth. The tail is always without sting. The wide gill slits are on the bottom side of head relatively close to each other and are arranged in a straight row behind each other.

Dissemination

Mantas are found in tropical subtropical seas. Since 2006, they are on the Red List.

System

The genus Manta consists of two types:

• Genus Manta Bancroft, 1829 Riffmanta (Manta alfredi ) ( Kreft, 1868)
• Giant Manta (Manta birostris ( Walbaum, 1792) )