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(#1) Manta Rays Have The Largest Brain Of All Fish
Manta rays have a reputation for being curious. They have an interest in observing divers and tend to have their own unique personalities. Mantas are one of the most intelligent fish in the sea, and that's likely because of their massive brains. They have the largest brains of all fish, packed full of glial cells that are believed to be tied to intelligence. They have more glial cells than house cats, meaning they may be smarter than some of our pets. Mantas who get tangled in fishing nets have been observed coming up to divers for help, a further sign of their incredible intellect.
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(#11) They Are More Closely Related To Sharks Than Bony Fish
Like sharks, all rays are cartilaginous fish. This means that their skeletons are made of cartilage instead of bone, a big difference from many other fish species. Sharks and rays both belong to a class of organisms called Chondrichthyes. This class also includes skates, sawfish, and chimeras, and each of these creatures share some basic characteristics. They all have cartilaginous skeletons, scaly skin, teeth that are constantly being replaced, and pelvic claspers used in mating.
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(#4) Males Form 'Mating Trains' As They Compete For Female Attention
Possibly one of the most bizarre mating behaviors in the animal kingdom, manta "mating trains" are as interesting as they are humorous. When a female manta is ready to mate, she will often be mobbed by groups of males numbering 30 or more individuals. These males follow her every move, part of an elaborate mating ritual where the female tests the persistence and skill of her suitors. She swims exceptionally fast, and the males that can't keep up are left in the dust.
The remaining males will often duke it out to be in the front of the train. The female will usually mate with the most persistent male who has managed to fight his way up to first place spot. It's ultimately up to the female to pick which mate she believes will be the most fit.
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(#5) Manta Rays Have To Keep Swimming In Order To Breath
Like many species of shark, manta rays need to be in constant motion in able to breath properly. This is unfortunate for them as they are unable to stop to sleep or rest. They cannot respire, so the only way for them to get oxygen is to have a steady stream of oxygenated water passing through their gills. Manta rays accidentally caught in human fishing nets are at extreme risk of death because they can get stuck and become immobilized.
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(#7) They Can Sieve Plankton From The Water With Their Unique Mouths
While manta rays may be huge, a considerable portion of their diet is made from some of the smallest organisms on Earth. They use their gaping mouths as filters to sieve out plankton from the seawater in huge gulps. There is a trend of large sea creatures that live on a diet of small creatures; whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, also eat a large amount of plankton, and many blue whales survive on a diet of krill. They all have various methods for filtering their food out of the water.
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(#2) They Are The First Fish To Pass The Mirror Test
Manta rays are one of the most intelligent animals in the ocean, and a study has shown that they may be as self-aware as dolphins, primates, and crows. Two manta rays were exposed to a mirror and their reactions were documented. Neither treated the mirror like another manta, and both performed behaviors that were completely novel.
One manta watched itself as it blew bubbles in the mirror, and both took a sharp interest in their reflections and contorted their bodies into unusual positions. Some believe this is evidence that they knew what they were seeing, but not everyone is convinced. At least one researcher wants to see the results of neural imaging on a manta ray as it interacts with its reflection.
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Manta rays are named for their appearance which is similar to bats flying at night. Many people are always at a loss when they see manta rays for the first time. It is really difficult to associate them with normal fishes, but the ancestors of manta ray living in the ocean as early as the Jurassic in the Mesozoic Era. Since about 100 million years ago, their body shape has hardly changed.
They have a wide and flat rhombus body, which looks like a kite in the ocean, dragging a thin and long tail and flapping triangular pectoral fins. In fact, the manta ray is a very mild filter-feeding sea creature, without any territorial behavior or aggressiveness. With the random tool, you could learn more fascinating facts about manta rays.
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