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After five years of study a marine biologist has confirmed that a larger and migratory manta ray is in fact a distinct species. Until now it was thought that there was only one manta ray species.
Andrea Marshall, a PhD marine biologist sponsored by the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF), studied rays in southern Mozambique. She soon realized that there were two distinct manta ray populations, with subsequent genetic and morphological analyses confirming that these groups were in fact two distinct species. Further research in Indonesia, Australia & Mexico revealed that both species were present across the globe. The new species of manta ray has large triangular pectoral fins that can span almost 8m in width and can weigh more than 2,000 kg. There may even be a third manta ray species across temperate, tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Unlike the more normally encountered manta ray, this one swims away from divers rather than seeking interaction. There are other differences between the two species in colour, skin texture and reproductive biology. The manta rays normally encountered by divers frequent coral reefs and are cleaned by parasite-eating fish in locations such as Hawaii, the Maldives, Mozambique, Australia, Japan, Sudan, Philippines and Yap. The larger manta rays are migratory so in the open ocean they are victims of bycatch. |
