Reef Manta Ray 🐟

Reef Manta Ray

The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is one of the largest and most iconic marine species. Because reef manta rays frequent relatively shallow waters along the coastal reefs of continents and oceanic islands, they are more commonly encountered by divers and snorkellers than their oceanic manta ray cousins. Reef manta rays are widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian and West Pacific Ocean. However they are also threatened by targeted fisheries driven by the demand for their gill plates. Climate change is also likely to affect the abundance of the zooplankton prey upon which this species relies.