#Pacific manta ray how to#

They inhabit warm tropical waters worldwide, and spend most of their time between the surface and approximately 400ft deep. The mantas use these areas as both feeding and cleaning stations. Oceanic mantas are often found congregating on reefs particularly susceptible to current, which attract schooling fish and plankton.

These are used to funnel plankton – a manta rays favourite snack! With so many different types of rays, it can be hard to tell them apart but one of the main distinguishable features of the Oceanic manta ray are the horns located either side of their huge mouths. From wing tip to wing tip, they can grow to at least 23ft and weigh up to an impressive 4,000 pounds!Īpart from their size, the Oceanic manta ray is distinguished by the markings on their backs, which include large black and white patches mostly above their shoulders. The Oceanic manta ray is the largest ray species in the world. Oceanic Manta Ray Photo by Shawn Heinrichs | The great Oceanic manta is the oceans gentle giant. From the graceful manta rays to the elusive stingrays, discover their distinct characteristics and unravel the secrets of these captivating species.

#Pacific manta ray how to#

Explore 10 different types of rays (Batoidea) and learn how to distinguish them.