World Manta Day

Happy World Manta Day, everyone!

This day is meant to raise awareness and celebrate the manta ray. Manta rays are native to warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical waters. The word "manta" is Portuguese and Spanish for "mantle", as in a cloak or blanket. This is a reference to their large pectoral fins, which they "flap" to move through the water like a bird flying through the air. They have also been known as "devilfish" thanks to the fins on their heads resembling a devil's horns. However, mantas are very far from evil beings. 

Manta rays mainly feed on zooplankton. They catch them by swimming around with their mouths open. They can also feed on smaller fish in lower depths. They are the prey of certain sharks, orcas, and the false killer whale (which is actually a dolphin).

There are little fossil records of manta rays as their skeletons are made of cartilage, not bone. Mantas have also been known to make leaps out of the water; the reason is unclear. Maybe they just want to see the sun every now and then. 

There are three known species of manta ray: the giant manta ray, the Atlantic manta, and the reef manta. None of these species are exactly small, but the giant manta earned the name. From wingtip to wingtip, that manta can be as long as 7 meters. That's about 23 feet. Yeah, you need a measuring tape to catch that wingspan!

Mantas don't have litters. They have single or two births at a time after about a year's gestation. Mantas can live about 50 years. They were once believed to be dangerous because of their size, but they're actually rather docile around humans.

And speaking of people, the Moche of Peru, who worshipped sea animals, featured mantas in their art. Amongst fish, mantas have been found to have the largest brains. In fact, it's believed that they may have a degree of self-awareness.

If you want to learn more about these wonderous critters, I suggest you look here and here. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!