Manta Rays

Manta rays are giant fish that live in warm ocean waters. They have flat bodies and huge, wing-like fins. Manta rays look like they are flying underwater. They are the biggest kind of ray in the world. Even though they are huge, they are gentle and do not hurt people.

Giants of the Sea

A big manta ray can be over 20 feet wide from fin to fin. That is wider than a small car. Manta rays have long, thin tails, but they do not sting like stingrays. They glide through the sea using slow, graceful fin beats. Some manta rays can even jump out of the water.

A huge manta ray gliding through the blue sea.
A huge manta ray gliding through the blue sea. (jon hanson from london, UK / Wikimedia Commons)

What They Eat

Manta rays eat some of the tiniest animals in the ocean. They swim with their huge mouths open to gulp in water. Tiny shrimp-like animals called plankton are trapped inside. The water flows out, but the food stays. This way of eating is called filter feeding.

Fun Facts

  • Manta rays have the biggest brains of any fish.
  • Each manta ray has its own unique belly pattern.
  • They can live for more than 40 years.

Did You Know?

Manta rays visit cleaning stations on reefs. Smaller fish swim up and eat tiny pests off the manta ray's body.