Manta Ray

Depth: 400 m · Twilight Zone

The manta ray glides through the water like a giant bird and can span over seven meters wide. Despite its size, it eats only tiny plankton, which it filters from the water.

For scientists

The manta ray filters plankton by pushing water through sieve-like plates on its gills; its two head fins funnel the flow into its mouth. Relative to body size it has the largest brain of any fish and regularly visits cleaning stations, where small fish pick parasites off it. Mantas usually bear just a single pup, so they reproduce very slowly.

Source: NOAA

🌊 Swim straight to it in 3D

Discover more

MackerelMako sharkManateeMantis shrimpMariana Trench with Challenger DeepMarine iguanaAll cards in the library