Cartilaginous fish · ray

Giant manta ray

Mobula birostris

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic Found in 3 oceans

Depth

Mostly near the surface, but dives to 1,250 m

Size

Wingspan of about 6.7 m, up to 9 m, and 1,350 kg

Diet

Plankton, mostly zooplankton, and sometimes small fish

Zone

Sunlit zone · 0 – 200 m

Key facts

• It is the largest ray in the world.
• Tags have recorded dives to more than 1,200 m, into water below 5 °C. These dives may help it find its way.
• In Mozambique, some spend up to half their time below 50 m depth.
• The female gives birth to only one pup at a time.

Verified sources

1. Florida Museum, Manta birostris
2. Scimex, Manta rays dive to extreme depths (Beale et al. 2025)
3. Beale et al. 2025, Frontiers in Marine Science
4. Save Our Seas Foundation, Deep-diving mantas

In the game: To observe

In the same zone

DugongDugong dugon Lion’s mane jellyfishCyanea capillata WalrusOdobenus rosmarus Leopard sealHydrurga leptonyx Arnoux’s beaked whaleBerardius arnuxii Sperm whalePhyseter macrocephalus