Family name: Myliobatidae, subfamily Mobulinae
Order name: Batoides
Common name: Mantaray
Scientific name: Manta Birostris (Dondorff, 1798)
The manta ray, or giant manta (Manta birostris), is the largest of the rays, amongst the largest known specimen having been nearly 7.6 meters (25 ft) across its pectoral fins (or "wings") in addition to weighed inward at 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Mantas vary inward colouring from black, grey-blue, to red-brown on the upper surface of their cartilage body, sometimes amongst white shoulder patches in addition to blotches, in addition to almost pure white on the lower surface of their pectoral fins in addition to trunk disc. Their trunk patterns present private variation in addition to helps rank individuals. There are likewise regional differences inward manta ray colouring patterns. For example, specimens from the eastern Pacific ofttimes characteristic dusky to mostly dark undersurfaces, piece those from the western Pacific are typically snowfall white underneath.
source Reference: www.dive-the-world.com & wikipedia.org
Sumber http://legend-islands.blogspot.com/
Order name: Batoides
Common name: Mantaray
Scientific name: Manta Birostris (Dondorff, 1798)
The Castilian give-and-take for blanket is 'manta' in addition to aptly describes the unique spherical trunk cast of this animal. Also known equally "devil ray" amongst graceful pectoral 'wings', manta rays are easily recognised yesteryear their paddle-like cephalic lobes projecting frontward from the front end of the caput (actually extensions of the pectoral fins, supported yesteryear radial cartilages), in addition to a really broad, rectangular terminal mouth.
The manta ray, or giant manta (Manta birostris), is the largest of the rays, amongst the largest known specimen having been nearly 7.6 meters (25 ft) across its pectoral fins (or "wings") in addition to weighed inward at 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Mantas vary inward colouring from black, grey-blue, to red-brown on the upper surface of their cartilage body, sometimes amongst white shoulder patches in addition to blotches, in addition to almost pure white on the lower surface of their pectoral fins in addition to trunk disc. Their trunk patterns present private variation in addition to helps rank individuals. There are likewise regional differences inward manta ray colouring patterns. For example, specimens from the eastern Pacific ofttimes characteristic dusky to mostly dark undersurfaces, piece those from the western Pacific are typically snowfall white underneath.
Although it's hard non to recognise an adult manta ray, juveniles are similar to mobula rays (of which in that place are ix species) that grow to 3 metres in addition to portion paddle-shaped cephalic lobes in addition to gracefully curved pectoral wings. Mantas are straightaway idea to live a unmarried species, in addition to mobulas are most readily distinguished yesteryear the rank of the oral cavity - mantas bring terminal mouths (located at the front end of the head), whilst mobulas bring sub-terminal mouths (located underneath the head, similar to many sharks).
Even though manta rays cite to 300 rows of minor peg shaped teeth (the size of pivot heads) exclusively on the lower jaw, they genuinely are gigantic filter-feeders, preying on planktonic crustaceans in addition to minor schooling bony fishes. The ii fleshy lobes of cephalic fins are unrolled in addition to held at a downward angle to practise a funnel guiding prey into their enormous mouth. Feeding ofttimes occurs close or at the surface where plankton accumulates.
The mantaray are ovoviviparous amongst a green litter size of ii - each pup wrapped inward a thin-shell that hatches within the mother, after to live born alive. Birth occurs inward relatively shallow water, where the immature stay for several years earlier expanding their make farther offshore. Like sharks in addition to other rays, mantas are fertilized internally. Male manta rays bring a distich of penis-like organs called claspers, along the inner purpose of their pelvic fins. During courtship, manful mortal chase the female, eventually i grasping the tip of i of her pectoral wings betwixt his teeth, in addition to pressing his belly against hers. Then, the manful mortal flexes i of his claspers in addition to inserts it into her vent. Copulation lasts virtually xc seconds. The fertilized eggs railroad train within a woman bring upward manta's trunk for an unknown length of fourth dimension that may make 12 months.
A newborn manta ray is virtually 125cm broad in addition to increment is rapid, doubling inward size during the outset twelvemonth of life. Males mature when they achieve a size of virtually iv metres, females at virtually 5 metres; it is unknown what historic menstruum this is. Likewise, it is non known how long mantarays live, but best guesses are virtually 25 years.
Only large warm H2O sharks, such equally the tiger shark are known to prey naturally upon manta rays.
Only large warm H2O sharks, such equally the tiger shark are known to prey naturally upon manta rays.
Manta ray distribution is circum-tropical, around the globe, to a greater extent than ofttimes than non betwixt 35 degrees due north in addition to due south latitude, including South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique to Somalia; inward the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Kingdom of Cambodia to southern Japan; northern Australia, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Fiji, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Hawaii; southern California to northern Peru, North Carolina to southern Brazil, the Azores, in addition to Senegal to Liberia.
source Reference: www.dive-the-world.com & wikipedia.org