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Marine Life: Ray
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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.
Manta rays are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Manta rays eat shrimp, plankton, and small fish. They siphon their food by using their gills, pumping water out while they suck fish in.
Manta rays have no stingers and their reputation for being dangerous is pure myth. They are huge and powerful but harmless.
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Manta rays can leap up to 7 feet out of the water. It is believed that they do this in order to slough off parasites and dead skin when they hit the surface of the water.
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