Manta Ray

Evolution

Ecology

Evolution

Manta rays have been classified by:

• The location of their mouth on the front of their head

• The triangular shape of their wing

• Their vestigal teeth on their lower jaw

• A larger brain than most aquatic species, kept warm by blood vessels

• A tail that lacks a stinger

• Blue-black color

• Migration patterns

• The manta ray are typically found in tropical waters close to a reef, throughout the Atlantic ocean. Like South Carolina, Brazil, and Bermuda.

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Class: Chondrichthyes

• Order: Rajiformes

• Family: Mobulidae

• Genus: Manta

• Species: Birostris

Evolution

• It has evolved by developing camouflage, losing its stinger, and is thought to have flattened out and become bigger.

Evolution

• Manta rays are believed to have evolved from their close relatives; stingrays.

Ecology

The manta ray displays a symbiotic relationship of mutalism. It visits "cleaning stations," of wrasses, angelfish, and/or remoras. This is mutalism because both creatures gain something. The ray is cleansed of dead skin cells and parasites, and the fish gain a food source from the ray

Genetics

Ecology

Cells

Manta rays are made of animal cells. Which means that they have no cell wall.

Extra blood vessels located all around the brain are used to keep the brain functioning effectively in cold waters when it makes deep dives.

• There are not many known disorders in the manta ray. One of the most recognized is the "albino manta ray" which is really a leucistic ray. Which is caused by a gentic issue

Cells

The manta ray has 32 sets of chromosomes. 16 from each parent.

Ecology

The manta ray is so large that it had few predators. The only few it has would consist of larger aggressive sharks such as the Tiger shark or an orca whale

Cells

Ecology

-Manta rays are a multicellular organism

Ecology

The manta ray lives on surface ocean waters to a maximum depth of 120 meters, prefers in-shores, warmer waters where food sources are more abundant. But they can occasionally be found further from shore.

The manta ray can be found in the following:

• Reef

• Temperate coastal

• Tropical coastal

Ecology

The manta ray filter feeds. It feeds on plankton, small fish, and crustaceans.

Manta Ray

Ecology

The biggest threat to the manta ray species is over fishing. They have a high value when sold in the international trade market, so they are highly targeted. They are also killed a lot by accident by fisheries making mistakes or getting caught in a net. Due to the numerous accidental or intentional deaths, their population is depleting rapidly. Many states and/or countries have made laws to protect the manta rays.

• Hawaii was the first US state to criminal penalties for manta ray killings

• In the Philippines, fishing of manta rays is illegal

• In Mexico, a law was passed that prohibited the capture and/or killing of manta rays in Mexico's waters

• In Ecuador, the deliberate fishing for mantas is illegal. If it is accidentally captured it should be released immediately, and it is prohibited to retain one dead or alive.

• In New Zealand they are absolutely protected under the Wildlife Act of 1953

• And many more.......

Manta Birosrtris