Reef manta ray

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Reef manta ray
Dharavandhoo Thila - Manata Black Pearl.JPG
M. alfredi in the Maldives
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Mobulidae
Genus: Mobula
Species:
M. alfredi
Binomial name
Mobula alfredi
(Krefft, 1868)
Manta alfredi dist.png
Synonyms

Manta alfredi

The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) [3] is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae, one of the largest rays in the world. Among generally recognized species, it is the second-largest species of ray, only surpassed by the giant oceanic manta ray. [4]

Contents

The species was described in 1868 by Gerard Krefft, the director of the Australian Museum. He named it M. alfredi in honor of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the first member of the British royal family to visit Australia. [5] It was originally described as part of the genus Manta but in 2017 was changed, along with the rest of the mantas, to be included as part of the genus Mobula. [6]

Reef manta rays are typically 3 to 3.5 m (9.8 to 11.5 ft) in disc width, [7] with a maximum size of about 5.5 m (18 ft). [4] For a long time included in M. birostris , the status of the reef manta ray as a separate species was only confirmed in 2009. [4] The reef manta ray is found widely in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, but with a few records from the tropical East Atlantic and none from the West Atlantic or East Pacific. [4] [8] Compared to the giant oceanic manta ray, the reef manta ray tends to be found in shallower, more coastal habitats, [4] [8] but local migrations are sometimes reported. [9] Mobula birostris is similar in appearance to Mobula alfredi and the two species may be confused as their distribution overlaps. However, there are distinguishing features.

Description

The reef manta ray can grow to a disc size of up to 5 m (16 ft) but average size commonly observed is 3 to 3.5 m (11 ft). [7] [10] It is dorsoventrally flattened and has large, triangular pectoral fins on either side of the disc. At the front, it has a pair of cephalic fins which are forward extensions of the pectoral fins. These can be rolled up in a spiral for swimming or can be flared out to channel water into the large, forward-pointing, rectangular mouth when the animal is feeding. The eyes and the spiracles are on the side of the head behind the cephalic fins, and the five gill slits are on the ventral (under) surface. It has a small dorsal fin and the tail is long and whip-like. The manta ray does not have a spiny tail as do the closely related devil rays (Mobula spp.). [11] The color of the dorsal side is dark black to midnight blue with scattered whitish and greyish areas on top head. The ventral surface is white, sometimes with dark spots and blotches. The markings can often be used to recognise individual fish. [12] Mobula alfredi is similar in appearance to Mobula birostris and the two species may be confused as their distribution overlaps. However, there are distinguishing features.

Physical distinctions between oceanic manta ray and reef manta ray

The first difference could be the size because the giant oceanic manta ray is bigger than the reef manta ray, 4 to 5 m (13–16 ft) on average versus 3 to 3.5 m (9.8–11.5 ft) on average. [7] However, if the observed rays are young, their size can easily bring confusion. Only the color pattern remains a fast and effective way to distinguish them. The reef manta ray has a dark dorsal side with usually two lighter areas on top of the head, looking like a nuanced gradient of its dark dominating back coloration and whitish to greyish, the longitudinal separation between these two lighter areas forms a kind of “Y”. While for the oceanic manta ray, the dorsal surface is deep dark and the two white areas are well marked without gradient effect. The line of separation between these two white areas form meanwhile a "T".

Difference can also been made by their ventral coloration, the reef manta ray has a white belly with often spots between the branchial gill slits and other spots spread across trailing edge of pectoral fins and abdominal region. The oceanic manta ray has also a white ventral coloration with spots clustered around lower region of its abdomen. Its cephalic fins, inside of its mouth and its gill slits are often black.

Distribution and habitat

The reef manta ray has a widespread distribution in tropical and subtropical parts of the Indo-Pacific, with few records from the warm East Atlantic and none in the West Atlantic or East Pacific. [1] It can be observed in several often-visited regions such as Hawaii, Fiji, French Polynesia, Micronesia, Bali, Komodo, Maldives, Mozambique, Australia and the Philippines. [13] It is primarily found in coastal regions. [1] [14]

Reef manta rays live in a more or less identical wide area with the possibility of short migration to follow the zooplankton. They therefore have a relatively sedentary behavior with precise areas for cleaning and feeding still within close proximity of coasts, reefs or islands. [1]

Biology

M. alfredi communities in the Maldives Manta alfredi maldives.jpg
M. alfredi communities in the Maldives

The reef manta ray has a pelagic lifestyle and feeds by filtering sea water in order to catch zooplankton. Research indicates that mantas may live to at least 50 years old. [7]

Like the Oceanic manta ray, it has the largest brain weight and ratio among cold blooded fish. [15] [16] Also, reef manta rays have been confirmed to form social communities in specific populations. [15] [16]

In New Caledonia, there are records of reef manta rays diving up to 672m in search of food. [17] It is believed that this allows Reef manta ray to act in the cold deep waters with certain Rete mirabile in the pectoral fins that can act as countercurrent heat. [17]

The reef manta ray, as the oceanic manta ray, is ovoviviparous. After mating, the fertilized eggs develop within the female's oviduct. At first, they are enclosed in an egg case and the developing embryos feeds on the yolk. After the egg hatches, the pup remains in the oviduct and receives nourishment from a milky secretion. [18] As it does not have a placental connection with its mother, the pup relies on buccal pumping to obtain oxygen. [19] The brood size is usually one but occasionally two embryos develop simultaneously. The gestation period is thought to be 12–13 months. When fully developed, the pup is 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) in disc width, weighs 9 kg (20 lb) and resembles an adult. It is expelled from the oviduct, usually near the coast, and it remains in a shallow-water environment for a few years while it grows. [18] [20] The disc width of the largest pup born at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium was about 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in). [21]

Status and threats

Natural predation

Because of its large size and velocity in case of danger (24 km/h or 15 mph escape speed), [22] the reef manta ray has very few natural predators which can be fatal to it. Only big sharks, for example the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) or the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), and also the false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) and the killer whale (Orcinus orca) are known to kill and eat mantas. The reef manta ray may escape an attack, leaving it with a part of the wing missing. [23]

The reef manta ray is considered to be vulnerable by the IUCN in its Red List of Threatened Species because their population decreased drastically over the last twenty years due to overfishing. Whatever the type of fishing (artisanal, targeted or bycatch), the impact on a population which has a low fecundity rate, a long gestation period with mainly one pup at a time, and a late sexual maturity can only be seriously detrimental as the species cannot compensate for the losses over several decades. [24] In recent years, fishing for manta rays has been significantly boosted by prices of their gill rakers on the market for traditional Chinese medicine. Pseudo-medicinal virtues assigned to them without proven scientific basis and a clever marketing strategy generate significant demand. [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manta ray</span> Genus of fishes

Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus Mobula. The larger species, M. birostris, reaches 7 m (23 ft) in width, while the smaller, M. alfredi, reaches 5.5 m (18 ft). Both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths. They are classified among the Myliobatiformes and are placed in the family Myliobatidae. They have the largest brains and brain to body ratio of all fish, and can pass the mirror test.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skate (fish)</span> Family of fishes

Skates are cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae in the superorder Batoidea of rays. More than 150 species have been described, in 17 genera. Softnose skates and pygmy skates were previously treated as subfamilies of Rajidae, but are now considered as distinct families. Alternatively, the name "skate" is used to refer to the entire order of Rajiformes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobulidae</span> Family of cartilaginous fishes

The Mobulidae are a family of rays consisting mostly of large species living in the open ocean rather than on the sea bottom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium</span> Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan

The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, formerly known as the Okinawa Ocean Expo Aquarium, is located within the Ocean Expo Park in Okinawa, Japan. It is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA), and was the largest aquarium in the world until it was surpassed by the Georgia Aquarium in 2005. The aquarium has the exhibit, “Encounter the Okinawan Sea”, which reproduces the sea of Okinawa and most of the creatures that live in it. Churaumi was selected as the name of the aquarium by public vote amongst Japanese people: chura means "beautiful" or "graceful" in the Okinawan language, and umi means "ocean" in Japanese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajiformes</span> Order of fishes in the superorder Batoidea

Rajiformes is one of the four orders in the superorder Batoidea, flattened cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. Rajiforms are distinguished by the presence of greatly enlarged pectoral fins, which reach as far forward as the sides of the head, with a generally flattened body. The undulatory pectoral fin motion diagnostic to this taxon is known as rajiform locomotion. The eyes and spiracles are located on the upper surface of the head and the gill slits are on the underside of the body. Most species give birth to live young, although some lay eggs enclosed in a horny capsule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesser devil ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The lesser devil ray is a ray in the family Mobulidae. They occur along the coasts of the western Atlantic, from North Carolina to northern Argentina.

<i>Mobula</i> Genus of cartilaginous fishes

Mobula is a genus of rays in the family Mobulidae that is found worldwide in tropical and warm, temperate seas. Some authorities consider this to be a subfamily of the Myliobatidae. Their appearance is similar to that of manta rays, which are in the same family, and based on genetic and morphological evidence, the mantas belong in Mobula. Species of this genus are often collectively referred to as "devil rays", "flying mobula", or simply "flying rays", due to their propensity for breaching, sometimes in a spectacular manner. These rays gather in groups and leap out of the surface into the air up to around two metres before splashing back into the water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blind shark</span> Species of shark

The blind shark is one of two species of carpet sharks in the family Brachaeluridae, along with the bluegrey carpetshark. Found along the coast of eastern Australia, this nocturnal, bottom-dwelling species is common in rocky areas and seagrass beds from the intertidal zone to a depth of 140 m (460 ft). It often roams in tidal pools where it may be trapped by the receding tide, and can survive for an extended period out of water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devil fish</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The devil fish or giant devil ray is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae. It is currently listed as endangered, mostly due to bycatch mortality in unrelated fisheries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinetail mobula</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The spinetail devil ray, also known as the spinetail mobula ray or Japanese mobula ray, is a species of pelagic marine fish which belongs to the family Mobulidae. It is found throughout the tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and eastern Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Mobula munkiana</i> Species of cartilaginous fish

Mobula munkiana, commonly known as the manta de monk, Munk's devil ray, pygmy devil ray, smoothtail mobula or Munk’s pygmy devil ray is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae. It is found in tropical parts of the eastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Gulf of California to Peru, as well as near offshore islands such as the Galapagos, Cocos, and Malpelo. Munk's devil ray was first described in 1987 by the Italian ecologist Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara and named for his scientific mentor, Walter Munk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean devil ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The Chilean devil ray, also known as the box ray, greater Guinean mobula, sicklefin devil ray or the spiny mobula, is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae. It is often observed worldwide, basking just below the surface in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate oceans, mainly offshore, and occasionally appearing near the coast. It can reach a disc width of up to 3.7 m (12 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bentfin devil ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The bentfin devil ray, also known as the lesser devil ray, smoothtail devil ray, smoothtail mobula or Thurston's devil ray, is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae. It is found worldwide in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate oceans, with records from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States (California), Uruguay, Vanuatu and throughout the central and western Pacific. It likely occurs in many other locations in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate oceans. It is found both offshore and near the coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smalleye stingray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The smalleye stingray is a large species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, measuring up to 2.2 m (7.2 ft) across. Rare but widely distributed, it is found in the Indo-Pacific from Mozambique to India to northern Australia. This species may be semi-pelagic in nature, inhabiting both deeper waters and shallow coastal reefs and estuaries. It is characterized by a diamond-shaped pectoral fin disc much wider than long, a tail that is broad and flattened in front of the spine but whip-like behind, and large white spots over its back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batoidea</span> Superorder of cartilaginous fishes

Batoidea is a superorder of cartilaginous fishes, commonly known as rays. They and their close relatives, the sharks, comprise the subclass Elasmobranchii. Rays are the largest group of cartilaginous fishes, with well over 600 species in 26 families. Rays are distinguished by their flattened bodies, enlarged pectoral fins that are fused to the head, and gill slits that are placed on their ventral surfaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant oceanic manta ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The giant oceanic manta ray, giant manta ray, or oceanic manta ray is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae, and the largest type of ray in the world. It is circumglobal and is typically found in tropical and subtropical waters, but can also be found in temperate waters. Until 2017, the species was classified in the genus Manta, along with the smaller reef manta ray. DNA testing revealed that both species are more closely related to rays of the genus Mobula than previously thought. As a result, the giant manta was renamed as Mobula birostris to reflect the new classification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Marshall</span> American marine biologist

Andrea Marshall is a marine biologist known for wildlife conservation and research on large marine animals like manta rays & whale sharks. Marshall is co-founder and a principal scientist of the Marine Megafauna Foundation, where she leads many of MMF’s projects around the world.

<i>Mobula kuhlii</i> Species of cartilaginous fish

Mobula kuhlii, the shortfin devil ray, is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae. It is endemic to the Indian Ocean and central-west Pacific Ocean. It ranges from South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and the Seychelles in the west to the Philippines and Indonesia in the east, and southward to the northern coast of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Megafauna Foundation</span> Marine research org on Mantas & Whale Sharks

The Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) is a marine biology research and conservation nonprofit known for discovering, researching, and protecting large marine animals including whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, whales, and dugongs.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Marshall, A.; Barreto, R.; Carlson, J.; Fernando, D.; Fordham, S.; Francis, M.P.; Herman, K.; Jabado, R.W.; Liu, K.M.; Pacoureau, N.; Rigby, C.L.; Romanov, E.; Sherley, R.B. (2019). "Mobula alfredi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T195459A68632178. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T195459A68632178.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ↑ "Mobula alfredi". FishBase. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Marshall, Andrea; Compagno, Leonard; Bennet, Michael. "Redescription of the genus Manta with resurrection of Manta alfredi (Krefft, 1868) (Chondrichthyes; Myliobatoidei; Mobulidae)". Zootaxa. Magnolia Press (2301): 1–28. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Alfred Manta, Manta alfredi (Krefft, 1868)". Australian Museum. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  6. ↑ White, William T; Corrigan, Shannon; Yang, Lei; Henderson, Aaron C; Bazinet, Adam L; Swofford, David L; Naylor, Gavin J P (2017), "Phylogeny of the manta and devilrays (Chondrichthyes: mobulidae), with an updated taxonomic arrangement for the family", Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Journal article) (published 24 June 2017), 182 (1): 50–75, doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx018
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Mantas at a Glance". Manta Trust. Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  8. 1 2 "Manta Ray Research". Foundation for the Protection of Marine Megafauna. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Germanov E, Marshall A (October 22, 2014). "Running the Gauntlet: Regional Movement Patterns of Manta alfredi through a Complex of Parks and Fisheries". PLOS ONE. PLOS. 9 (10): e110071. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...9k0071G. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110071 . PMC   4206290 . PMID   25337865.
  10. ↑ Marshall, A.D., L.J.V. Compagno and M.B. Bennett, 2009. Redescription of the genus Manta with resurrection of Manta alfredi (Krefft, 1868) (Chondrichthyes; Myliobatoidei; Mobulidae). Zootaxa 2301:1-28.
  11. ↑ "Field guide to the identification of Mobulid rays (Mobulidae)", Guy Stevens, Manta Trust, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Spot the Difference". Manta Trust. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  13. ↑ "Manta Hotspots". Manta Trust. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  14. ↑ "Reef manta ray recorded for first time in Eastern Pacific". Discover Wildlife. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  15. 1 2 "Manta rays form close friendships, shattering misconceptions". National geo graphic. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  16. 1 2 "We Just Learned Manta Rays May Have Surprisingly Close 'Friends' They See Regularly". sciencealert.
  17. 1 2 "Diving behavior of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in New Caledonia: More frequent and deeper night-time diving to 672 meters" . Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  18. 1 2 Marshall, A. D.; Bennett, M. B. (2010). "Reproductive ecology of the reef manta ray Manta alfredi in southern Mozambique". Journal of Fish Biology. 77 (1): 185–186. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02669.x. PMID   20646146.
  19. ↑ Tomita, T.; Toda, M.; Ueda, K.; Uchida, S.; Nakaya, K. (2012). "Live-bearing manta ray: how the embryo acquires oxygen without placenta and umbilical cord". Biology Letters. 8 (5): 721–724. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2012.0288. PMC   3440971 . PMID   22675137.
  20. ↑ "Manta". Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  21. ↑ "Manta Ray Manta birostris (Donndorff, 1798) in Captivity" . Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  22. ↑ "Natural Predation". Manta Trust. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  23. ↑ Marshall, A.D. and Bennett, M.B. 2010. "The frequency and effect of shark-inflicted bite injuries to the reef manta ray (Manta alfredi)". African Journal of Marine Science 32: 573–580.
  24. ↑ "Manta Fisheries". Manta Trust. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  25. ↑ "Gill Plate Trade". Manta Trust. Archived from the original on 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  26. 1 2 Jaine FRA, LIE Couturier, SJ Weeks, KA Townsend, MB Bennett, K Fiora and AJ Richardson (2012)"When Giants Turn Up: Sighting Trends, Environmental Influences and Habitat Use of the Manta Ray Manta alfredi at a Coral Reef" PLoS ONE, e46170. doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0046170
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