Animal Profiles
Fish

Manta Ray

Mobula

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Mantas are large rays that filter small animals from seawater. This account follows the giant manta ray, using the older Manta birostris source while retaining the modern genus Mobula.

Giant manta ray (Mobula birostris), the representative described here.

Giant manta ray (Mobula birostris), the representative described here.

Arturo de Frias Marques · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Mobula birostris is the representative described here. The older source predates parts of the modern manta classification, so its broad worldwide range is not copied as an exact map for the modern species. Mantas use warm marine waters.
Habitat
Coast, Open ocean, Coral reef
Diet
Filter feeder
Food
Water passing through the mouth is strained to collect plankton.

Classification

Common name
Manta Ray
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Mobula
Taxon rank
genus
Order
Myliobatiformes
Family
Myliobatidae
Genus
Mobula
Source classification
Chondrichthyes

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It is a filter feeder.
  • Head lobes help direct food.
  • It can visit cleaning stations.

Habitat and range

Mobula birostris is the representative described here. The older source predates parts of the modern manta classification, so its broad worldwide range is not copied as an exact map for the modern species. Mantas use warm marine waters.

Appearance and adaptations

Broad pectoral fins form wing-like surfaces. Two flexible lobes beside the mouth help direct food inward. Unlike many stingrays, mantas lack a sharp venomous tail barb.

Diet and behaviour

Water passing through the mouth is strained to collect plankton. Mantas may loop through food patches and visit reef cleaning stations where other fishes remove parasites. Their teeth do not perform the main filtering work.

Sources

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