Recorded in 1920, this huge manta ray even made it into the Guinness World Records as the largest manta ray ever recorded. The Largest Manta Ray Ever RecordedĪlthough manta rays have an average wingspan of 23 feet, the largest manta ray ever recorded was much larger and reached a whopping 30 feet. In deeper waters, manta rays have often been seen diving to depths of around 2,000 feet, but have been known to go much deeper on occasions, with their powerful wings propelling them through the water. Ecuador currently has the largest individual population of manta rays with around 650 having been identified there. Reef manta rays are mainly found in the Indo-Pacific ocean while the giant manta rays frequent the seas all the way around the equator. Manta rays are usually found in tropical and subtropical waters and are migratory animals that largely follow where the food is. In fact, manta rays are actually extremely gentle and friendly creatures that are not harmful at all. Although these huge rays are often mistaken for stingrays, they don’t have a barb on their tail and so can’t sting. Both species have the typical manta ray coloring of black on their back and white on their bellies but giant manta rays have black mouths while reef manta rays have white mouths. The giant manta ray is the larger of the two. There are two species of manta ray: the reef manta ray (manta alfredi) and the giant manta ray (manta birostris). ![]() Not only that, but manta rays actually have the largest brains out of all the fish in the world.īut just how big can manta rays get? We’ll dive into the largest manta ray ever recorded and what size ancient manta rays may have reached! The Background on Manta RaysĪs well as their distinctive shape and massive wings, manta rays can easily be distinguished by their wide mouths and “horns” that are actually called cephalic fins or lobes and are used for channeling water and food into their mouths while they are feeding. Also known as birds of the sea, these huge fish have an average wingspan of 23 feet and a weight of about 4,500 pounds. With a diamond-shaped appearance and huge fins that look like wings, manta rays glide through the water with an ease that belies their size. ![]() Of all the fish in the sea, manta rays have got to be amongst the most graceful and breathtaking creatures. Hannah Ward reports on the biggest manta ray ever for A-Z Animals. Our manta ray tours are one of the best on the Big Island to view these beautiful animals in their own environment.
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