SPECIES OF THE DAY

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray - Manta birostris

• Habitat: tropical and subtropical waters mostly far from shore
• Range: circumglobal (all but Southern and Arctic oceans)
• Size: disc size up to 7 m (23 ft) and up to 1350 kg (3000 lbs)
• Diet: filter feeders; zooplankton (shrimp, krill, crabs); "herds" groups of prey
• Life History: internal fertilization; ovoviviparous; 1-2 pups; 12-13 mos gestation; sometimes forms groups; mutualism with cleaner fish (wrasse)
• Conservation Status: Vulnerable
• Human Impact: not dangerous; overfished for the last few decades for their gill rakers (traditional Chinese Medicine)
• Other: preyed on by large sharks and orcas (occasionally)