National Parks/ Sanctuaries
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Common Names
chevron manta ray, giant manta ray, pacific manta ray, pelagic manta ray, oceanic manta ray
Regions
ArgentinaGuatemalaMyanmar
Population
Approximately 10,000 individuals
Habitat
Oceanic waters with rich plankton concentrations and moderate temperatures.
Weight(in lbs) and Life Span
3000, and 40
Regions
Argentina, Guatemala, Myanmar, Australia, Gabon, Indonesia, Kenya, Congo, El Salvador, Mexico, Angola, Egypt, Barbados, Colombia, Martinique, Mauritius, Cameroon, Ghana, Iraq, India, Brazil, China, Djibouti, Jamaica, Japan, Mozambique, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Kuwait, Ecuador, Guyana, Malaysia, Uruguay, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Togo, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Tanzania, Spain, Hong Kong, Peru, Qatar, Bahrain, Portugal, Puerto Rico, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Saint Lucia, Costa Rica, United States of America, United States, New Zealand, Oman, Suriname, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, American Samoa, Iran, North Korea, Saint Martin (French part), Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Bonaire, Cabo Verde, Saint Helena, Micronesia, South Korea, Curacao
The Chevron Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) is the largest ray species in the world. With a wing‑span up to ~6.8 m or more and weight up to ~2,000 kg, it is a majestic ocean wanderer. It sports a broad, flattened disc body, triangular pectoral “wings”, forward‑facing wide mouth for filter‑feeding, and distinctive “cephalic lobes” on the head which channel water and prey into the mouth. The dorsal surface is dark with contrasting pale shoulder markings that often form a “T”‑shaped chevron pattern (hence the common name), and the ventral surface is lighter with unique spot patterns used to identify individuals. It is a pelagic, migratory filter‑feeder, consuming vast amounts of zooplankton, small schooling fishes or larvae by swimming with its mouth open or performing “barrel rolls” through aggregation zones.
Because of its slow life history—late sexual maturity, long gestation (~1 year), typically one pup every 2–3 years—and its exposure to significant human threats (fisheries, by‑catch, habitat degradation), the Chevron Manta Ray is highly vulnerable. Its wide distribution does not shield it from persecution and population decline. Conservation efforts include trade regulation (CITES listing), monitoring of aggregation sites, research into migration, promoting marine protected areas, and collaboration with fisheries to reduce bycatch.
Activity Instructions
- Draw the Animal: Use the next page to draw a picture of the animal. Use your imagination and make it colorful!
- Write an Essay: Write a short essay about the conservation efforts to save this animal. Here are some questions to guide you:
- Why is this species important in its ecosystem?
- What are the threats it faces, and how can we help?
- What do you find most interesting about this species?
