Manta Rays:
It is a large tropical fish, scientific name manta ray, mainly inhabits tropical and subtropical waters, feeding on plankton and small fish, because the gathering place is usually far from the coast, so it is difficult to observe, especially juvenile manta ray is more rare.
Life Habits:
Using its characteristic large fins, the manta ray slowly vibrates like an outstretched wing and swims leisurely under the surface of the sea, (sometimes it is a pleasure to watch it "fly") Sometimes jumps out of the sea, and sometimes it does somersaults in the air. The body of the manta ray family can reach up to 8 meters long and weigh up to 3 tons, making it the largest of the total order Inferior Hole. Flattened body, with a strong pectoral fin, similar to wings, cruising in the ocean, the pectoral fin in front of two thin, narrow, ear-like protrusions, can collect food from the mouth, small teeth, manta rays, although they are big guys, they mainly feed on plankton and small fish, often cruising near coral reefs for food, gentle temperament. In English, it is mistakenly called "manta rays", mainly because of its scary shape.
Sometimes the manta ray uses its head fin to hang itself on the anchor chain of the boat, dragging the boat around the sea at a high speed, making the fishermen mistakenly think that this is the "devil" at work, but it is actually a prank of the manta ray. "Manta rays" like to swim in groups, sometimes diving to the bottom of the sea, sometimes rising in pairs of males and females to the surface. During the breeding season, manta rays sometimes use their double fins to pat the surface of the water, jump up into the air, can jump out of the water, and "glide" over the water more than one person high, when falling into the water, the sound is like a cannon, spreading for miles, very spectacular.
Manta rays may seem intimidating, but they are actually gentle and feed only on crustaceans or flocks of small fish and shrimp. On its head grow two fleshy feet, which are its head fins, the head fins protrude forward and can rotate freely, and the manta rays use these two head fins to drive away food and swallow the food in the mouth.
Research Observations:
In 2018, after two years of observations, U.S. biologists found for the first time a habitat for juvenile manta rays in the waters off the Gulf of Mexico in Texas.
