The giant manta,Manta birostris,means devil ray, Atlantic manta, and the Pacific manta, are the most largest of the rays and are closely related to sharks. These harmless, majestic creatures have short tails and no stinging spines. They are very acrobatic and are able to leap high from the water. Remoras external link are frequently seen,with mantas near the mouth and even inside the gill cavities, hanging out to feed on parasites on the manta's body and bits of the manta's food.The Manta genus is what is commonly thought of as manta rays. There is also a Mobula genus that are smaller bottom-dwelling rays. To confuse things even further, two of the Mobula species, Mobula mobular and Mobula hypostoma, are also commonly referred to as the devil fish and lesser devil ray, respectively.
It was previously thought that three species of giant manta existed:
1) Manta birostris - Atlantic manta ray
2) Manta hamiltoni - Pacific manta ray
3) Manta alfredi - Prince Alfred's manta ray
Recent studies of genetic samples, however, show that they are all the same species - Manta birostris.
These graceful swimmers swim by moving their wing-like pectoral fins, which can grow up to 9 external link m wide, but average about 6.7 external link m. The largest weigh about 1,350 external link kg. Mantas are dark brown to black on the dorsal side with pale margins; they are mostly white on the ventral side.
