Manta rays are among the most graceful animals a diver can encounter. Here are ten facts worth knowing before your next encounter.
- A manta's skin is covered in a protective mucous film.
- They are some of the largest animals in the ocean.
- Swimming is essential — mantas can't pump water over their gills while still, so they have to keep moving.
- The name "manta" comes from the Spanish word meaning "mantle" or "cloak".
- Manta rays are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world.
- Their food is tiny — mostly plankton and small fish, filtered from the water as they swim.
- Manta rays give birth to live young.
- Mantas have unusually large brains relative to their body size.
- Mantas seem to love being cleaned, often lingering at reef "cleaning stations".
- They're classed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List.
Keep an eye out for these gentle giants on your next dive, and remember to give them plenty of space.
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