98-435: Mobula alfredi Mobula birostris † Mobula hynei Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus Mobula (formerly its own genus Manta ). The larger species, M. birostris , reaches 7 m (23 ft) in width, while the smaller, M. alfredi , reaches 5.5 m (18 ft). Both have triangular pectoral fins , horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths. They are classified among
196-491: A genetic mutation causing erythrism . The fish, spotted near Lady Elliot Island , is the world's only known pink manta ray. The two species of manta differ in color patterns, dermal denticles, and dentition. M. birostris has more angular shoulder markings, ventral dark spots on the abdominal region, charcoal -coloured ventral outlines on the pectoral fins, and a dark colored mouth. The shoulder markings of M. alfredi are more rounded, while its ventral spots are located near
294-413: A placental connection with its mother, the pup relies on buccal pumping to obtain oxygen. The brood size is usually one but occasionally two embryos develop simultaneously. The gestation period is thought to be 12–13 months. When fully developed, the pup is 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) in disc width, weighs 9 kg (20 lb) and resembles an adult. It is expelled from the oviduct, usually near
392-421: A C shape (see image). The location of anatomical structures can also be described in relation to different anatomical landmarks . They are used in anatomy, surface anatomy, surgery, and radiology. Structures may be described as being at the level of a specific spinal vertebra , depending on the section of the vertebral column the structure is at. The position is often abbreviated. For example, structures at
490-434: A convoluted history, during which several names were used for both the genus ( Ceratoptera , Brachioptilon , Daemomanta , and Diabolicthys ) and species (such as vampyrus , americana , johnii , and hamiltoni ). All were eventually treated as synonyms of the single species Manta birostris . The genus name Manta was first published in 1829 by Dr Edward Nathaniel Bancroft of Jamaica. The specific name birostris
588-402: A near-stationary position close to the coral surface for several minutes while the cleaner fish feed. Such visits most frequently occur when the tide is high. Individual mantas may exhibit philopatry by revisiting the same cleaning station or feeding area repeatedly and appear to have cognitive maps of their environment. In addition, it has been confirmed that reef manta rays form a bond with
686-414: A small dorsal fin and the tail is long and whip-like. The manta ray does not have a spiny tail as do the closely related devil rays ( Mobula spp.). The color of the dorsal side is dark black to midnight blue with scattered whitish and greyish areas on top head. The ventral surface is white, sometimes with dark spots and blotches. The markings can often be used to recognise individual fish. Mobula alfredi
784-487: A specific individual and act together. Mantas may be preyed upon by large sharks , orcas and false killer whales . They may also harbor parasitic copepods . Mantas can remove internal parasites by sticking their intestines up to 30 cm (12 in) out of their cloaca and squeezing them out, often while defecating. Remoras adhere themselves onto mantas for transportation and use their mouths as shelter. Though they may clean them of parasites, remoras can also damage
882-414: A standard set of terms to communicate clearly the position of a structure. Standard anatomical and zoological terms of location have been developed, usually based on Latin and Greek words, to enable all biological and medical scientists, veterinarians , doctors and anatomists to precisely delineate and communicate information about animal bodies and their organs, even though the meaning of some of
980-403: A state in which a part further away is abnormally placed towards (varus) or away from (valgus) the midline. The terms proximal (from Latin proximus 'nearest') and distal (from Latin distare 'to stand away from') are used to describe parts of a feature that are close to or distant from the main mass of the body, respectively. Thus the upper arm in humans
1078-399: A third was added in 2010. The Atlantis resort on Paradise Island , Bahamas, hosted a manta named "Zeus" that was used as a research subject for three years until it was released in 2008. Manta ray tourism is estimated to generate over US$ 73 million per year and brings US$ 140 million per year to local economies. The majority of global revenues come from ten countries: Japan , Indonesia ,
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#17328455540131176-454: A tight grip, he turns upside-down and presses his ventral side against hers. He then inserts one of his claspers into her cloaca , where it remains for 60–90 seconds. The claspers form a tube and a siphon propels semen from the genital papilla into the oviduct . The male continues to grip the female's pectoral fin with his teeth for a further few minutes as both continue to swim, often followed by up to 20 other males. The pair then parts,
1274-639: A white ventral coloration with spots clustered around lower region of its abdomen. Its cephalic fins, inside of its mouth and its gill slits are often black. The reef manta ray has a widespread distribution in tropical and subtropical parts of the Indo-Pacific , with few records from the warm East Atlantic and none in the West Atlantic or East Pacific. It can be observed in several often-visited regions such as Hawaii , Fiji , French Polynesia , Micronesia , Bali , Komodo , Maldives , Mozambique , Australia and
1372-557: A width of 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) for males and 3.4 m (11 ft) for females. Female mantas appear to mature at 8–10 years. Manta rays may live as long as 50 years. Swimming behavior in mantas differs across habitats: when travelling over deep water, they swim at a constant rate in a straight line, while further inshore, they usually bask or swim idly around. Mantas may travel alone or in groups up to 50. They may associate with other fish species, as well as sea birds and marine mammals . Mantas sometimes breach or leap out of
1470-452: A wound on the upper arm, but proximal to a wound on the lower arm. The terms are also applied to internal anatomy, such as to the reproductive tract of snails . Unfortunately, different authors use the terms in opposite senses. Some consider "distal" as further from a point of origin near the centre of the body and others as further from where the organ reaches the body's surface; or other points of origin may be envisaged. This terminology
1568-734: Is North Carolina in the United States (31°N) and the North Island of New Zealand (36°S). They prefer water temperatures above 68 °F (20 °C) and M. alfredi is predominantly found in tropical areas. Both species are pelagic . M. birostris lives mostly in the open ocean, travelling with the currents and migrating to areas where upwellings of nutrient-rich water increase prey concentrations. Fish that have been fitted with radio transmitters have traveled as far as 1,000 km (620 mi) from where they were caught, and descended to depths of at least 1,000 m (3,300 ft). M. alfredi
1666-674: Is bipedal or quadrupedal . Additionally, for some animals such as invertebrates , some terms may not have any meaning at all; for example, an animal that is radially symmetrical will have no anterior surface, but can still have a description that a part is close to the middle ("proximal") or further from the middle ("distal"). International organisations have determined vocabularies that are often used as standards for subdisciplines of anatomy. For example, Terminologia Anatomica for humans and Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria for animals. These allow parties that use anatomical terms, such as anatomists , veterinarians , and medical doctors , to have
1764-502: Is "Nandi", a manta ray which was accidentally caught in shark nets off Durban , South Africa, in 2007. Rehabilitated and outgrowing her aquarium at uShaka Marine World , Nandi was moved to the larger Georgia Aquarium in August 2008, where she resides in its 23,848 m (6,300,000 US gal) "Ocean Voyager" exhibit. A second manta ray, "Tallulah", joined that aquarium's collection in September 2009 and
1862-428: Is a more resident and coastal species. Seasonal migrations do occur, but they are shorter than those of M. birostris . Mantas are common around coasts from spring to fall, but travel further offshore during the winter. They keep close to the surface and in shallow water in daytime, while at night they swim at greater depths. The greatest threat to manta rays is overfishing . M. birostris is not evenly distributed over
1960-555: Is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae , one of the largest rays in the world. Among generally recognized species, it is the second-largest species of ray, only surpassed by the giant oceanic manta ray . The species was described in 1868 by Gerard Krefft, the director of the Australian Museum. He named it M. alfredi in honor of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh , the first member of the British royal family to visit Australia. It
2058-413: Is also employed in molecular biology and therefore by extension is also used in chemistry, specifically referring to the atomic loci of molecules from the overall moiety of a given compound. Central and peripheral refer to the distance towards and away from the centre of something. That might be an organ, a region in the body, or an anatomical structure. For example, the central nervous system and
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#17328455540132156-448: Is ascribed to Johann Julius Walbaum (1792) by some authorities and to Johann August Donndorff (1798) by others. The specific name alfredi was first used by Australian zoologist Gerard Krefft , who named the manta after Prince Alfred . A 2009 study analyzed the differences in morphology, including color, meristic variation , spine, dermal denticles (tooth-like scales), and teeth of different populations. Two distinct species emerged:
2254-646: Is covered in mucus . Mantas normally have a "chevron" coloration. They are typically black or dark on top with pale markings on their "shoulders". Underneath, they are usually white or pale with distinctive dark markings by which individual mantas can be recognized, as well as some shading. Individuals can also vary from mostly black ( melanism ) to mostly white ( leucism ). These color morphs appear to be products of neutral mutations and have no effects on fitness . A pink manta ray has been observed in Australia's Great Barrier Reef and scientists believe this could be due to
2352-402: Is proximal and the hand is distal. "Proximal and distal" are frequently used when describing appendages , such as fins , tentacles , and limbs . Although the direction indicated by "proximal" and "distal" is always respectively towards or away from the point of attachment, a given structure can be either proximal or distal in relation to another point of reference. Thus the elbow is distal to
2450-402: Is rarely used in human anatomy, apart from embryology, and refers more to the front of the face than the superior aspect of the organism. Similarly, the term "caudal" is used more in embryology and only occasionally used in human anatomy. This is because the brain is situated at the superior part of the head whereas the nose is situated in the anterior part. Thus, the "rostrocaudal axis" refers to
2548-481: Is roughly symmetrical. To do this, distinct ends of an organism are chosen, and the axis is named according to those directions. An organism that is symmetrical on both sides has three main axes that intersect at right angles . An organism that is round or not symmetrical may have different axes. Example axes are: Examples of axes in specific animals are shown below. Several terms are commonly seen and used as prefixes : Other terms are used as suffixes , added to
2646-467: Is similar in appearance to Mobula birostris and the two species may be confused as their distribution overlaps. However, there are distinguishing features . The first difference could be the size because the giant oceanic manta ray is bigger than the reef manta ray, 4 to 5 m (13–16 ft) on average versus 3 to 3.5 m (9.8–11.5 ft) on average. However, if the observed rays are young, their size can easily bring confusion. Only
2744-409: Is similar in appearance to Mobula alfredi and the two species may be confused as their distribution overlaps. However, there are distinguishing features . The reef manta ray can grow to a disc size of up to 5 m (16 ft) but average size commonly observed is 3 to 3.5 m (11 ft). It is dorsoventrally flattened and has large, triangular pectoral fins on either side of the disc. At
2842-458: Is to the head or tail of an animal. To describe how close to the head of an animal something is, three distinct terms are used: For example, in horses , the eyes are caudal to the nose and rostral to the back of the head. These terms are generally preferred in veterinary medicine and not used as often in human medicine. In humans, "cranial" and "cephalic" are used to refer to the skull, with "cranial" being used more commonly. The term "rostral"
2940-434: Is to the midline, or the medial plane. Lateral (from Latin lateralis 'to the side') describes something to the sides of an animal, as in "left lateral" and "right lateral". Medial (from Latin medius 'middle') describes structures close to the midline, or closer to the midline than another structure. For example, in a human, the arms are lateral to the torso . The genitals are medial to
3038-552: Is usually one or occasionally two. The gestation period is thought to be 12–13 months. When fully developed, the pup resembles a miniature adult and is expelled from the oviduct with no further parental care. In wild populations, an interval of two years between births may be normal, but a few individuals become pregnant in consecutive years, demonstrating an annual ovulatory cycle. The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has had some success in breeding M. alfredi , with one female giving birth in three successive years. In one of these pregnancies,
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3136-570: The Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals , but are more vulnerable closer to shore. Areas where mantas congregate are popular with tourists. Only a few public aquariums are large enough to house them. The name "manta" is Portuguese and Spanish for mantle (cloak or blanket), a type of blanket-shaped trap traditionally used to catch rays. Mantas are known as "devilfish" because of their horn-shaped cephalic fins, which are imagined to give them an "evil" appearance. Manta rays are members of
3234-465: The IUCN in its Red List of Threatened Species because their population decreased drastically over the last twenty years due to overfishing. Whatever the type of fishing (artisanal, targeted or bycatch), the impact on a population which has a low fecundity rate, a long gestation period with mainly one pup at a time, and a late sexual maturity can only be seriously detrimental as the species cannot compensate for
3332-518: The Maldives , Mozambique , Thailand , Australia , Mexico , United States , the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau . Divers may get a chance to watch mantas visiting cleaning stations and night dives enable viewers to see mantas feeding on plankton attracted by the lights. Ray tourism benefits locals and visitors by raising awareness of natural resource management and educating them about
3430-645: The Myliobatiformes ( stingrays and relatives) and are placed in the family Myliobatidae (eagle rays). They have the largest brains and brain to body ratio of all fish, and can pass the mirror test . Mantas are found in warm temperate , subtropical and tropical waters. Both species are pelagic ; M. birostris migrates across open oceans, singly or in groups, while M. alfredi tends to be resident and coastal. They are filter feeders and eat large quantities of zooplankton , which they gather with their open mouths as they swim. However, research suggests that
3528-842: The Oligocene in South Carolina and two from the Miocene and Pliocene in North Carolina . M. hynei is a fossil species dating to Early Pliocene North America. Remains of an extinct species have been found in the Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina. These were originally described as Manta fragilis , but were later reclassified as Paramobula fragilis . Manta rays have broad heads, triangular pectoral fins , and horn-shaped cephalic fins located on both sides of their mouths. They have horizontally flattened bodies with eyes on
3626-478: The anatomy of animals , including humans . The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position . This position provides a definition of what is at the front ("anterior"), behind ("posterior") and so on. As part of defining and describing terms, the body is described through the use of anatomical planes and anatomical axes . The meaning of terms that are used can change depending on whether an organism
3724-438: The anterior superior iliac spine , the medial malleolus or the medial epicondyle . Anatomical lines are used to describe anatomical location. For example, the mid-clavicular line is used as part of the cardiac exam in medicine to feel the apex beat of the heart . Special terms are used to describe the mouth and teeth. Fields such as osteology , palaeontology and dentistry apply special terms of location to describe
3822-449: The head . Anterior (from Latin ante 'before') describes what is in front, and posterior (from Latin post 'after') describes what is to the back of something. For example, for a dog the nose is anterior to the eyes and the tail is considered the most posterior part; for many fish the gill openings are posterior to the eyes but anterior to the tail. These terms describe how close something
3920-648: The neuraxis is different between the two groups, and so is what is considered the standard anatomical position , such as how humans tend to be standing upright and with their arms reaching forward. Thus, the "top" of a human is the head, whereas the "top" of a dog would be the back, and the "top" of a flounder may be on either the left or right side. Unique terms are also used to describe invertebrates as well, because of their wider variety of shapes and symmetry. Because animals can change orientation with respect to their environment, and because appendages like limbs and tentacles can change position with respect to
4018-467: The pectoralis major muscle). In radiology , an X-ray image may be said to be "anteroposterior", indicating that the beam of X-rays, known as its projection, passes from their source to patient's anterior body wall first, then through the body to exit through posterior body wall and into the detector/film to produce a radiograph. The opposite is true for the term "posteroanterior," while side-to-side projections are known as either "lateromedial" (from
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4116-415: The peripheral nervous systems . Central (from Latin centralis ) describes something close to the centre. For example, the great vessels run centrally through the body; many smaller vessels branch from these. Peripheral (from Latin peripheria , originally from Ancient Greek ) describes something further away from the centre of something. For example, the arm is peripheral to
4214-411: The tiger shark ( Galeocerdo cuvier ), the great hammerhead shark ( Sphyrna mokarran ) or the bull shark ( Carcharhinus leucas ), and also the false killer whale ( Pseudorca crassidens ) and the killer whale ( Orcinus orca ) are known to kill and eat mantas. The reef manta ray may escape an attack, leaving it with a part of the wing missing. The reef manta ray is considered to be vulnerable by
4312-496: The Oceanic manta ray, it has the largest brain weight and ratio among cold blooded fish. Also, reef manta rays have been confirmed to form social communities in specific populations. In New Caledonia , there are records of reef manta rays diving up to 672m in search of food . It is believed that this allows Reef manta ray to act in the cold deep waters with certain Rete mirabile in
4410-525: The Okinawa Ocean Expo Aquarium, was recorded to have lived for approximately 23 years. The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium houses manta rays in the "Kuroshio Sea" tank, one of the largest aquarium tanks in the world. The first manta ray birth in captivity took place there in 2007. Although this pup did not survive, the aquarium has since had the birth of four more manta rays in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. However, although Manta became pregnant in 2012, she
4508-587: The Philippines. It is primarily found in coastal regions. Reef manta rays live in a more or less identical wide area with the possibility of short migration to follow the zooplankton . They therefore have a relatively sedentary behavior with precise areas for cleaning and feeding still within close proximity of coasts, reefs or islands. The reef manta ray has a pelagic lifestyle and feeds by filtering sea water in order to catch zooplankton . Research indicates that mantas may live to at least 50 years old. Like
4606-556: The anchor. This attitude changed around 1976, when divers around the Gulf of California found them to be placid and safe to interact with. Several divers photographed themselves with mantas, including Jaws author Peter Benchley . The Okinawa Ocean Expo Aquarium acquired mantas in 1978 which survived for four days. In addition, at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium , a male manta ray, which started captivity in 1992 at its predecessor,
4704-412: The animals. It can also provide funds for research and conservation. Constant unregulated interactions with tourists can negatively affect them by disrupting ecological relationships and increasing disease transmission. In 2014, Indonesia banned fishing and export targeting mantas, as manta ray tourism is more economically beneficial than allowing them to be killed. A dead manta is worth $ 40 to $ 500, while
4802-400: The body in a standing position with arms at the side and palms facing forward, with thumbs out and to the sides. Many anatomical terms can be combined, either to indicate a position in two axes simultaneously or to indicate the direction of a movement relative to the body. For example, "anterolateral" indicates a position that is both anterior and lateral to the body axis (such as the bulk of
4900-570: The body. These terms refer to the distance of a structure from the surface. Deep (from Old English ) describes something further away from the surface of the organism. For example, the external oblique muscle of the abdomen is deep to the skin. "Deep" is one of the few anatomical terms of location derived from Old English rather than Latin – the anglicised Latin term would have been "profound" (from Latin profundus 'due to depth'). Superficial (from Latin superficies 'surface') describes something near
4998-417: The closeness to the midline of the dental arch. Terms used to describe structures include "buccal" (from Latin bucca 'cheek') and "palatal" (from Latin palatum 'palate') referring to structures close to the cheek and hard palate respectively. Several anatomical terms are particular to the hands and feet. Additional terms may be used to avoid confusion when describing
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#17328455540135096-416: The coast, and it remains in a shallow-water environment for a few years while it grows. The disc width of the largest pup born at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium was about 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in). Because of its large size and velocity in case of danger (24 km/h or 15 mph escape speed), the reef manta ray has very few natural predators which can be fatal to it. Only big sharks, for example
5194-409: The color pattern remains a fast and effective way to distinguish them. The reef manta ray has a dark dorsal side with usually two lighter areas on top of the head, looking like a nuanced gradient of its dark dominating back coloration and whitish to greyish, the longitudinal separation between these two lighter areas forms a kind of “Y”. While for the oceanic manta ray, the dorsal surface is deep dark and
5292-1335: The country's fish markets each year. By comparison, M. birostris populations at most of the key aggregation sites around the world are estimated to have significantly fewer than 1000 individuals. Targeted fisheries for manta rays in the Gulf of California , the west coast of Mexico, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines have reduced populations in these areas dramatically. Manta rays are subject to other human impacts . Because mantas must swim constantly to flush oxygen-rich water over their gills, they are vulnerable to entanglement and subsequent suffocation . Mantas cannot swim backwards, and because of their protruding cephalic fins, are prone to entanglement in fishing lines, nets , ghost nets , and even loose mooring lines. When snared, mantas often attempt to free themselves by somersaulting, tangling themselves further. Loose, trailing line can wrap around and cut its way into its flesh, resulting in irreversible injury. Similarly, mantas become bycatch when entangled in gill nets designed for smaller fish. Some mantas are injured by collision with boats, especially in areas where they congregate and are easily observed. Other threats or factors that may affect manta numbers are climate change , tourism, pollution from oil spills , and
5390-469: The economic impact of tourism at a popular dive site can be $ 1 million per manta over its life, the most famous spot for Manta Ray spotting being Manta Point located in Labuan Bajo. Indonesia has 5.8 million km (2.2 million sq mi) of ocean, and this is now the world's largest sanctuary for manta rays. Mobula alfredi Manta alfredi The reef manta ray ( Mobula alfredi )
5488-421: The end of words: Superior (from Latin super 'above') describes what is above something and inferior (from Latin inferus 'below') describes what is below it. For example, in the anatomical position , the most superior part of the human body is the head and the most inferior is the feet. As a second example, in humans, the neck is superior to the chest but inferior to
5586-428: The female being left with scars on her fin. The fertilized eggs develop within the female's oviduct. At first, they are enclosed in an egg case while the developing embryos absorb the yolk. After hatching, the pups remain in the oviduct and receive additional nutrition from milky secretions called histotroph . With no umbilical cord or placenta , the unborn pup relies on buccal pumping to obtain oxygen. Brood size
5684-466: The fish often migrate through unregulated waters, putting them at increased risk from overfishing. The Manta Trust is a UK-based charity dedicated to research and conservation efforts for manta rays. The organization's website is also an information resource for manta conservation and biology. In 2009, Hawaii became the first state in the United States to introduce a ban on the killing or capturing of manta rays. Previously, no fishery for mantas existed in
5782-400: The form of shrimp , krill , and planktonic crabs . In deeper depths, mantas consume small to medium-sized fish. Foraging mantas flatten their cephalic fins to channel food into their mouths. During filter feeding, small particles are collected by the tissue between the gill arches. The standard method of feeding for a lone manta is simply swimming horizontally, turning 180 degrees to feed in
5880-415: The front, it has a pair of cephalic fins which are forward extensions of the pectoral fins . These can be rolled up in a spiral for swimming or can be flared out to channel water into the large, forward-pointing, rectangular mouth when the animal is feeding. The eyes and the spiracles are on the side of the head behind the cephalic fins, and the five gill slits are on the ventral (under) surface. It has
5978-657: The front. The edges of the jaws line up while in devil rays, the lower jaw shifts back when the mouth closes. Manta rays and devil rays are the only ray species that have evolved into filter feeders. Manta rays have dorsal slit-like spiracles, traits which they share with the devil fish and Chilean devil ray . Chilean devil ray ( M. tarapacana ) Lesser devil ray ( M. hypostoma ) Munk's devil ray ( M. munkiana ) Reef manta ray ( M. alfredi ) Giant oceanic manta ray ( M. birostris ) Devil fish ( M. mobular ) Bentfin devil ray ( M. thurstoni ) Shortfin devil ray ( M. kuhlii ) The scientific naming of mantas has had
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#17328455540136076-446: The gestation period was 372 days and at birth the pup had a width of 192 cm (76 in) and weight of 70 kg (150 lb). In Indonesia, M. birostris males appear to mature at 3.75 m (12 ft), while female mature around 4 m (13 ft). In the Maldives , males of M. alfredi mature at a width of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in), while females mature at 3 m (9.8 ft). In Hawaii , M. alfredi matures at
6174-432: The gills may get clogged up, forcing mantas to cough and create a cloud of gill waste. The rays commonly do this above cleaning stations, providing a feast for the cleaner fish. Mantas defecate dark red fecal matter which is often mistaken for blood. Mantas are found in tropical and subtropical waters in all the world's major oceans, and also venture into temperate seas. The furthest from the equator they have been recorded
6272-417: The hand') is commonly used to describe the front of the hand, and dorsal is the back of the hand. For example, the top of a dog 's paw is its dorsal surface; the underside, either the palmar (on the forelimb) or the plantar (on the hindlimb) surface. The palmar fascia is palmar to the tendons of muscles which flex the fingers, and the dorsal venous arch is so named because it is on the dorsal side of
6370-459: The highest brain-to-body mass ratios and the largest brain size of all fish. Their brains have retia mirabilia which may serve to keep them warm. M. alfredi has been shown to dive to depths over 400 metres (1,300 ft), while the Chilean devil ray, which has a similar structure, dives to nearly 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). Mating takes place at different times of the year in different parts of
6468-476: The ingestion of microplastics . The IUCN listed the reef manta as vulnerable in 2019 and the giant manta as endangered in 2020. In 2011, mantas became strictly protected in international waters because of their inclusion in the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals . The CMS is an international treaty organization concerned with conserving migratory species and habitats on a global scale. Although individual nations were already protecting manta rays,
6566-745: The latter made into abrasives . Their flesh is edible and is consumed in some countries, but is unattractive compared to other fish. Demand for their gill rakers, the cartilaginous structures protecting the gills, has recently entered Chinese medicine . To fill the growing demand in Asia for gill rakers, targeted fisheries have developed in the Philippines, Indonesia, Mozambique, Madagascar, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Tanzania. Each year, thousands of manta rays, primarily M. birostris , are caught and killed purely for their gill rakers. A fisheries study in Sri Lanka and India estimated that over 1000 were being sold in
6664-512: The legs. Temporal has a similar meaning to lateral but is restricted to the head. The terms "left" and "right" are sometimes used, or their Latin alternatives ( Latin : dexter , lit. 'right'; Latin : sinister , lit. 'left'). However, it is preferred to use more precise terms where possible. Terms derived from lateral include: Varus (from Latin 'bow-legged') and valgus (from Latin 'knock-kneed' ) are terms used to describe
6762-448: The level of the fourth cervical vertebra may be abbreviated as "C4", at the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra "T4", and at the level of the third lumbar vertebra "L3". Because the sacrum and coccyx are fused, they are not often used to provide the location. References may also take origin from superficial anatomy , made to landmarks that are on the skin or visible underneath. For example, structures may be described relative to
6860-430: The losses over several decades. In recent years, fishing for manta rays has been significantly boosted by prices of their gill rakers on the market for traditional Chinese medicine. Pseudo-medicinal virtues assigned to them without proven scientific basis and a clever marketing strategy generate significant demand. Caudal (anatomical term) Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously
6958-401: The main body, terms to describe position need to refer to an animal when it is in its standard anatomical position . This means descriptions as if the organism is in its standard anatomical position, even when the organism in question has appendages in another position. This helps avoid confusion in terminology when referring to the same organism in different postures. In humans, this refers to
7056-811: The majority of their diet (73%) comes from mesopelagic sources. Gestation lasts over a year and mantas give birth to live pups. Mantas may visit cleaning stations for the removal of parasites . Like whales, they breach for unknown reasons. Both species are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . Anthropogenic threats include pollution , entanglement in fishing nets , and direct harvesting of their gill rakers for use in Chinese medicine . Manta rays are particularly valued for their gill plates , which are traded internationally. Their slow reproductive rate exacerbates these threats. They are protected in international waters by
7154-424: The manta's gills and skin, and increase its swimming load. In 2016, scientists published a study in which manta rays were shown to exhibit behavior associated with self-awareness . In a modified mirror test , the individuals engaged in contingency checking and unusual self-directed behavior. Manta rays are filter feeders as well as macropredators. On the surface, they consume large quantities of zooplankton in
7252-497: The manta's range. Courtship is difficult to observe in this fast-swimming fish, although mating "trains" with multiple individuals swimming closely behind each other are sometimes seen in shallow water. The mating sequence may be triggered by a full moon and seems to be initiated by a male following closely behind a female while she travels at around 10 km/h (6.2 mph). He makes repeated efforts to grasp her pectoral fin with his mouth, which may take 20 to 30 minutes. Once he has
7350-440: The members of the genus Manta than they are to fellow Mobula , and the researchers recommended treating Manta as a junior synonym of Mobula . Mantas evolved from bottom-dwelling stingrays, eventually developing more wing-like pectoral fins. M. birostris still has a vestigial remnant of a sting barb in the form of a caudal spine. The mouths of most rays lie on the underside of the head, while in mantas, they are right at
7448-456: The mouth and teeth. This is because although teeth may be aligned with their main axes within the jaw, some different relationships require special terminology as well; for example, teeth also can be rotated, and in such contexts terms like "anterior" or "lateral" become ambiguous. For example, the terms "distal" and "proximal" are also redefined to mean the distance away or close to the dental arch , and "medial" and "lateral" are used to refer to
7546-716: The oceans, but is concentrated in areas that provide the food resources it requires, while M. alfredi is even more localized. Their distributions are thus fragmented, with little evidence of intermingling of subpopulations. Because of their long lifespans and low reproductive rate, overfishing can severely reduce local populations with little likelihood that individuals from elsewhere will replace them. Both commercial and artisanal fisheries have targeted mantas for their meat and products. They are typically caught with nets, trawls , and harpoons. Mantas were once captured by fisheries in California and Australia for their liver oil and skin;
7644-442: The order Myliobatiformes which consists of stingrays and their relatives. The genus Manta is part of the eagle ray family Myliobatidae , where it is grouped in the subfamily Mobulinae along with the smaller Mobula devil rays. In 2018, an analysis of DNA, and to a lesser degree, morphology , found that Mobula was paraphyletic with respect to the manta rays; that is, some members of genus Mobula are closer related to
7742-432: The other direction. Up and down movements, sideways tilting and 360 degree somersaults are also observed. Mantas engage in a number of group feeding behaviors. An individual may "piggy-back" on a larger, horizontally feeding individual, placing itself over its back. "Chain-feeding" involves them aligning back-to-front and swimming horizontally. Chain-feeding mantas may create a circle, with the lead individual meeting up with
7840-400: The outer surface of the organism. For example, in skin , the epidermis is superficial to the subcutis . These two terms, used in anatomy and embryology , describe something at the back ( dorsal ) or front/belly ( ventral ) of an organism. The dorsal (from Latin dorsum 'back') surface of an organism refers to the back, or upper side, of an organism. If talking about
7938-402: The outside of the left or right side of the body toward the inside) or "mediolateral"(from the inside of that side of the body toward the outside. The same logic is applied to all planes of the body and, thus top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top X-ray projections are known as "superoinferior" and "inferosuperior," respectively. However, within the diagnostic imaging industry, for this particular example,
8036-421: The pectoral fins that can act as countercurrent heat. The reef manta ray, as the oceanic manta ray, is ovoviviparous . After mating, the fertilized eggs develop within the female's oviduct . At first, they are enclosed in an egg case and the developing embryos feeds on the yolk . After the egg hatches, the pup remains in the oviduct and receives nourishment from a milky secretion . As it does not have
8134-436: The posterior end and between the gill slits, and the mouth is white or pale colored. The denticles have multiple cusps and overlap in M. birostris , while those of M. alfredi are evenly spaced and lack cusps. Both species have small, square-shaped teeth on the lower jaw, but M. birostris also has enlarged teeth on the upper jaw. Unlike M. alfredi , M. birostris has a caudal spine near its dorsal fin. Mantas move through
8232-481: The sides of their heads behind the cephalic fins, and gill slits on their ventral surfaces. Their tails lack skeletal support and are shorter than their disc-like bodies. The dorsal fins are small and at the base of the tail. Mantas can reach 1,350 kg (2,980 lb). In both species, the width is about 2.2 times the length of the body; M. birostris reaches at least 7 m (23 ft) in width, while M. alfredi reaches about 5.5 m (18 ft). Their skin
8330-442: The skull, the dorsal side is the top. The ventral (from Latin venter 'belly') surface refers to the front, or lower side, of an organism. For example, in a fish, the pectoral fins are dorsal to the anal fin , but ventral to the dorsal fin . The terms are used in other contexts; for example dorsal and ventral gun turrets on a bomber aircraft. Specific terms exist to describe how close or far something
8428-539: The smaller M. alfredi found in the Indo-Pacific and tropical East Atlantic, and the larger M. birostris found throughout tropical, subtropical and warm temperate oceans. The former is more coastal, while the latter is more ocean-going and migratory . A 2010 study on mantas around Japan confirmed the morphological and genetic differences between M. birostris and M. alfredi . A third possible species, preliminarily called Manta sp. cf. birostris , reaches at least 6 m (20 ft) in width, and inhabits
8526-454: The state but migratory fish that pass the islands are now protected. In 2010, Ecuador introduced a law prohibiting all fishing for manta and other rays, their retention as bycatch and their sale. The ancient Peruvian Moche people worshipped the sea and its animals. Their art often depicts manta rays. Historically, mantas were feared for their size and power. Sailors believed that they were dangerous to humans and could pull ships out to sea by
8624-426: The stragglers. More individuals may join, creating a "cyclone" of mantas spiraling upwards. With a diameter of 15 m (49 ft), these cyclones consist of up to 150 mantas and last up to an hour. Studies have shown that around 27% of the diet of M. birostris is from the surface, while around 73% is at deeper depths. Mantas may forage on the ocean floor with the cephalic fins splayed apart. During filter feeding,
8722-460: The surfaces of the hand and what is the "anterior" or "posterior" surface. The term "anterior", while anatomically correct, can be confusing when describing the palm of the hand; Similarly is "posterior", used to describe the back of the hand and arm. This confusion can arise because the forearm can pronate and supinate and flip the location of the hand. For improved clarity, the directional term palmar (from Latin palma 'palm of
8820-429: The terms "cranial" (towards the head) and "caudal" (towards the tail, or, downwards, away from the head) are known interchangeable alternatives to the previous two projection terms. Combined terms were once generally hyphenated, but the modern tendency is to omit the hyphen. Anatomical terms describe structures with relation to four main anatomical planes : The axes of the body are lines drawn about which an organism
8918-404: The terms often is context-sensitive. Much of this information has been standardised in internationally agreed vocabularies for humans ( Terminologia Anatomica ) and animals ( Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria ). Different terms are used for groups of creatures with different body layouts, such as bipeds (creatures that stand on two feet, such as humans) and quadrupeds . The reasoning is that
9016-510: The tropical West Atlantic, including the Caribbean. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes lists the following as valid within Mobula : While some small teeth have been found, few fossilized skeletons of manta rays have been discovered. Their cartilaginous skeletons do not preserve well, as they lack the calcification of the bony fish . Only three sedimentary beds bearing manta ray fossils are known, one from
9114-401: The two white areas are well marked without gradient effect. The line of separation between these two white areas form meanwhile a "T". Difference can also been made by their ventral coloration, the reef manta ray has a white belly with often spots between the branchial gill slits and other spots spread across trailing edge of pectoral fins and abdominal region. The oceanic manta ray has also
9212-579: The water by the wing-like movements of their pectoral fins. Their large mouths are rectangular, and face forward. The spiracles typical of rays are vestigial and concealed by small flaps of skin, and mantas must keep swimming with their mouths open to keep oxygenated water passing over their gills. The cephalic fins are usually spiraled but flatten during foraging. The fish's gill arches have pallets of pinkish-brown gill rakers , which are made of spongy tissue that collects food particles. Mantas track down prey using visual and olfactory senses. They have one of
9310-401: The water. Individuals in a group may make aerial jumps in succession. Mantas may leap forward and re-enter head first, tail first or make somersaults . The reason for breaching is not known; possible explanations include communication, or the removal of parasites and remoras (suckerfish). Mantas visit cleaning stations on coral reefs for the removal of external parasites. The ray adopts
9408-399: Was only confirmed in 2009. The reef manta ray is found widely in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific , but with a few records from the tropical East Atlantic and none from the West Atlantic or East Pacific. Compared to the giant oceanic manta ray, the reef manta ray tends to be found in shallower, more coastal habitats, but local migrations are sometimes reported. Mobula birostris
9506-402: Was originally described as part of the genus Manta but in 2017 was changed, along with the rest of the mantas, to be included as part of the genus Mobula . Reef manta rays are typically 3 to 3.5 m (9.8 to 11.5 ft) in disc width, with a maximum size of about 5.5 m (18 ft). For a long time included in M. birostris , the status of the reef manta ray as a separate species
9604-530: Was stillborn. In 2013, she became pregnant, but her mother, manta ray, died and the pup that was taken out died. In August 2024, a female all black body manta ray kept in the Kuroshio tank gave birth. The pups were born black all over like their mother, 1.6 metres (5 ft) wide, and weighed 42 kilograms (93 lb). There are currently three mantas spending time at the Georgia Aquarium . One notable individual
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