The water is passed over the highly adapted gills, where gill rakers filter out the plankton for feeding. Mantas feed almost exclusively on Plankton with their cephalic horns helping to direct water flow into their large, gaping mouths. alfredi may live up to 40 years in the wild. 3,4įemales reach sexual maturity at about 8 years old, whereas males mature earlier at 6 years. Being self reliant, young Mantas are an easy target for predation and so it is believed that juvenile mortality is quite high. 3,4 LifecycleĪt birth, Reef Mantas measure approximately 1.5m across, though juveniles are rarely encountered in the wild. The gestation period is estimated to be 12 months, with females giving birth generally to a single pup (sometimes 2), every 2-3 years. This milk is a protein and lipid-rich liquid, also know as Histotrophe. After mating, the developing embryo feeds on a yolk sac, before later being nourished by uterine milk. Reef Mantas are viviparous, meaning that they give birth to live young. Courting may last a couple of hours, but copulation only lasts 15-35 seconds, after which, there is no further contact between the pair. The male will then bite her pectoral fins and turn her upside down, with scarring suggesting that the males prefer to bite the left pectoral. If she is not interested, she will avoid any advances until a suitable male is accepted. Mating in Reef Mantas begins with males chasing the females, trying to out-perform their competition through speed, complex swim patterns and even breaching. alfredi generally roam around 70km in a day, however their migration routes can take them up to 500km away. Whilst the depth range is not certain, Reef Mantas, prefer shallow waters, generally between 0-300m. They are generally considered to be coastal, preferring the shallow inshore reefs, however, they may also be found at isolated atolls. Within Australia, they can be seen from Perth, up the West coast, across the Northern end and throughout The Great Barrier Reef, down to New South Wales. alfredi is found globally in tropical and sub-tropical waters. They are also often associated with Ramoras, which regularly attache themselves and hitch a ride. These criteria also lead to them often returning to the same sites on a regular basis. alfredi are generally solitary, although they may form groups when feeding, mating, or at cleaning stations. The gills are also highly adapted to aid the feeding process as they filter Plankton from the water. They also have an acute electro-sensory system and well-adapted hearing. The eyes are located on the side of the head, allowing Mantas to see in all directions. alfredi have between 918 and 1,456 small, cusped teeth, 1-2mm in length. The males are identified by the presence of two claspers extending from the pelvic fins and have more pronounced teeth, used in mating. Some figures suggest that Reef Mantas may grow up to 5m in length, however typically, mature females reach 390cm, with males being a smaller 300cm. Females have a simple Cloaca between the ventral fins and show mating scars along their pectorals. alfredi shows dark blotches on the ventral surface. ![]() Other than size, another difference between M. The dorsal surface is black, with a lighter patch on either shoulder and they are countershaded with a white ventral surface. They have a disc-shaped body, a slender tail and no distinct caudal spine. Reef Mantas are large rays, with wing-like pectoral fins and cephalic horns at either side of their mouth. Their sheer size and elegance in the water is what makes them a favourite among snorkelers and divers. These large, pelagic rays, seemingly fly through the water, using their wing-like fins to propel them, as they scoop up plankton from the water column. Mobula alfredi, or The Reef Manta Ray, is perhaps the most sought after encounter on The Great Barrier Reef.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |