Giant Manta Ray

The giant manta ray is a huge, gentle fish that glides through the open ocean like a slow-flapping bird. Its body is shaped like a wide diamond, and its two big "wings" can spread as far apart as a small bus is long. Even though it is so large, it is calm and friendly and does not have a stinging tail like some of its cousins.

Manta rays are called gentle giants because they eat some of the tiniest food in the sea. As a manta swims along with its huge mouth open, it sieves out clouds of plankton, which are teeny shrimp and other little sea creatures. It herds the plankton into a thick swirl and then swoops through the middle with its mouth wide open.

One of the most amazing things a manta ray does is visit a cleaning station. This is a special place, often near a coral reef, where small fish are happy to help. The manta hovers gently while the little fish swim up and nibble away bits of dirt and pests, keeping its skin clean and healthy. It is a bit like the manta popping in for a wash and a check-up.

Manta rays are very clever. For a fish, they have a surprisingly big brain, and scientists think they are among the smartest fish in the ocean. They are curious animals that sometimes swim right up to divers to take a closer look, and they seem to remember places they have visited before.

There are fewer giant manta rays than there used to be, and they need our help. Because they grow slowly and usually have just one pup at a time, their numbers drop quickly if too many are caught. Many countries now protect manta rays, and divers and scientists work together to watch over the reefs and open seas where these gentle giants love to glide.