Reef manta ray
📖 Overview
Adults are commonly sighted inshore, within a few kilometers of land; found around coral and rocky reefs as well as along productive coastlines with consistent upwelling, tropical island groups, atolls and bays . Maximum movement recorded is >500,000 m . Known aggregations include sites in Hawai'i, Mozambique, Maldives, Ryukyu Island, Yap Island, Indonesia, eastern and western Australia . Gestation period is 12-13 months. Major food consists of planktonic organisms and probably small bony fishes . Maximum correted to 450 cm WD by Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara (pers. Comm. 01/2025).
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
This species is characterized by the following: disc approximately 2.2-2.4 times as broad as it is long, the maximum disc width size approximately 550 cm; slender whip-like tail approximately 123% of disc length if intact; no distinct caudal spine or cartilaginous mass at base of tail; some specimens have small hump at the base of the tail on the dorsal surface, while others have a slight depression and groove on the dorsum of the tail immediately posterior to the posterior margin of the dorsal fin; small, knob-like dermal denticles evenly distributed on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces, with ventral surface having slightly larger denticles; dental ligament with small cusped teeth on the lower jaw measuring roughly 22% of total disc length, approximately 6-8 rows, 142-182 files across entire width of the tooth band; total tooth counts of 900-1500 for entire tooth band; top jaw lacks rows of enlarged denticles .: other.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Reef manta ray is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Young may tend to follow large objects such as their mother .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 120 m . Tropical; 32°N - 34°S, 30°E - 134°W South Africa, Thailand to Western Australia.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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