Giant oceanic manta ray

Giant Manta (Manta birostris )

The giant manta (Manta birostris ) is a ray species of the subfamily of the Devil Rays, genus manta rays. " Manta " is Spanish for "ceiling". The head fins finally brought the animals the name " Devil Rays " one.

Description

Giant manta rays can reach a span of seven meters and a weight of two tons. Unlike many other species of skates they have no sting. They feed exclusively on plankton, which they catch while swimming. Stick to, unlike their relatives, mostly near the water surface, where they find their food. Only they spend their rest periods apparently near the ground.

On both sides of the head Mantas each have a head fin. With these fins, they run their mouth to additional plankton -rich water.

Just as the Kuhnasenrochen the Giant Manta uses its fins like wings of a bird. The top speed of 9-12 km / h In the one with the giant Mantas closely related Mobularochen jumps have been measured over 2 meters.

Dissemination

Giant manta rays are found worldwide in all tropical oceans in shallow water. They prefer coastal waters.

Both in the peripheral areas of the Indian Ocean as well as at the edge regions of the Atlantic and the Pacific and adjacent seas such as the Gulf of Mexico are manta rays to be found. In the western Atlantic, the range extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the tropical Brazil. In the Indian Ocean, the spread of South Africa goes to India. The western Pacific is populated from northern Australia to Southeast Asia and in the field of oceanic islands. Even in the subsequent seas such as the Bay of Bengal, the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, the giant manta rays are at home. Mantas are often to be found at the cleaning stations on the reefs and are usually accompanied by remora fish.

Stock

Mantas are listed on the Red List of IUCN in the category "NT". You are not yet effective as critically endangered, their populations are to be considered as very sensitive due to the low rate of reproduction.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity is the giant manta with five years of life. During mating, the male performs one of his so-called Klaspern one in the female into the cloaca. 13 months it takes to about 1.9 m wide and 10 kg boy will be born. Notgeburten at harpooned bearing females were observed several times. In June 2007, the first giant manta ray born in captivity at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. The female, 1.9 m wide animal, however, died only five days after his birth - maybe it was beset by his father and injured.

Like other very large cartilaginous fish (eg whale or basking sharks ) come Mantas in small stocks before, grow slowly, mature late and have a small number of offspring.

Enemies

In addition to the people who fished the mantas targeted world only to a small extent, probably belong robbery sharks, including tiger sharks, the larger enemies of this species. People hunt the Devil Rays by harpooning. Their meat is considered a local specialty, their liver is rich in oil from their skin abrasives are manufactured. Other animals fall Drift and fixed nets victim. Sport fishermen appreciate the valor of the Mantas and use their meat for shark fishing. Gradually place the hunt for the Manta and commercial interest.

Giant mantas and man

Movement, appearance and size of the manta rays, and the name " Devil Rays " probably contributed to the fact that in the 18th and 19th centuries circulated among seamen all sorts of horror stories about them. It was believed, giant manta rays are dangerous to humans, but today they are considered dangerous. Most animals tolerate even divers at her side.

Attitude in captivity

Currently, giant manta rays are kept only in four zoo - aquarium in the world, including the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the capital of the U.S. state of Georgia and the Zoo of Tokyo. In the latter 2007, a manta ray baby is even born into the world, but a few days then died due to an injury to the pelvic disc, because his father had chased it through the aquarium.

Trivia

The manta ray was the inspiration for the name of the automobile model Opel Manta from General Motors.