Research published in 2016 proved about 73% of their diet is mesopelagic (deep water) sources including fish. Instead, Burgess explained: “We studied the giant manta rays’ diet using biochemical tests, such as stable isotope analysis, which works on the ‘you are what you eat’ paradigm. The eyes and the spiracles are on the side of the head behind the cephalic fins, and the gill slits are on the ventral (under) surface. [7] It is dorsoventrally flattened and has large, triangular pectoral fins on either side of the disc.
[24], The oceanic manta ray is considered to be vulnerable by the IUCN’s Red List of Endangered Species because its population has decreased drastically over the last twenty years due to overfishing.
But not all species are large predators. Manta rays belongs to the class of animals called manta or Elasmobranchii. When foraging, it usually swims slowly around its prey, herding the planktonic creatures into a tight group before speeding through the bunched-up organisms with its mouth open wide. The oceans are home to a vast number of animal and plant species that make up a food chain characterized by the dynamics of food species. The giant oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae, and the largest type of ray in the world. However, the capture and trade of parts of manta rays is important in some countries, because their gill rakers are in demand for use in traditional Chinese medicine and its meat can be eaten. [9] [11] The oceanic manta ray is often found in association with offshore oceanic islands.
In the wild they may be victims of attacks by large sharks, killer whales and false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), according to reports. It has a small dorsal fin and the tail is long and whip-like. However, there are distinguishing features.
Mantas may travel alone or in groups of up to 50 and sometimes associate with other fish species, as well as sea birds and marine mammals. But in Mozambican waters, more than 70 percent of reef manta rays show shark attack marks. 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. The oceanic manta ray has also a white ventral coloration with spots clustered around lower region of its abdomen. DNA testing revealed that both species are more closely related to rays of the genus Mobula than previously thought.
[26] In June 2018 the New Zealand Department of Conservation classified the giant oceanic manta ray as "Data Deficient" with the qualifier "Threatened Overseas" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. The ventral surface is white, sometimes with dark spots and blotches. Only large sharks and dolphins, such as the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran), the bullshark (Carcharhinus leucas), the false killer whale (Pseudora crassidens), and the killer whale (Orcinus orca), are capable of preying on the ray. The manta ray is a large species of flattened fish, closely related to other cartilaginous fish such as sharks. Other classes of manta rays has the ability to produce electricity which they use on fighting predators. There are a variety of threats that occur for the survival of the manta ray. [25] In recent years, fishing for manta rays has been significantly boosted by the price of their gill rakers on the traditional Chinese Medicine market. However, due to their elusive nature, surprisingly little is known about what they eat.