Critter Guide :: Marine Life :: Ray The manta ray is the largest member of the ray family. It can grow up to 19 feet long and weigh as much as 2,300 pounds. Manta rays do not fight for territory and lead solitary lives. They are very good swimmers and are also acrobatic. The word "manta" means blanket in Spanish; the Manta ray gets its name from its blanket-like appearance in the water. Females give birth to live babies that already have a four-foot wingspan. Where do they live? Manta rays are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. What do they eat? Manta rays eat shrimp, plankton, and small fish. They siphon their food by using their gills, pumping water out while they suck fish in. Critter Fact Manta rays have no stingers and their reputation for being dangerous is pure myth. They are huge and powerful but harmless. Did You Know? Octopuses are constantly surprising scientists -- in one research lab, they climbed out of their tanks at night to raid the crab tank! Related Episodes The Secret World of Sharks and Rays http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/sharks/ Shark Mountain http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/abyss/

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