Manta Ray (Reef)

About the Manta Ray (Reef)

Smaller than the oceanic manta but equally charismatic. They visit cleaning stations where wrasses remove parasites. They are known to approach divers and sometimes hover above them, possibly out of curiosity. They are listed as vulnerable. Their populations are fragmented and declining. They have the highest brain-to-body mass ratio of any elasmobranch. They can be identified by their unique belly spot patterns. They are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They give birth to a single pup every 2-3 years. Their slow reproduction makes them vulnerable to fishing pressure.