This particular specimen is noted by Guinness World Records as having a wingspan of 9.1 metres, or 30 feet. The largest manta ray on record is a giant oceanic manta ray. Their access to huge food stocks, and their need to cover vast distances, is likely the reason why oceanic manta rays are larger than reef manta. This allows them to scour the oceans in search of food, which they find in abundance. They follow vast migratory patterns by taking advantage of ocean currents. Unlike reef manta, oceanic manta are more commonly found in deep and open ocean. The giant oceanic manta, by contrast, can grow up to 9 metres in width, although generally doesn’t exceed 5 or 6. Luckily, increased protection for the giant oceanic manta ray in the Caribbean region will be.

Smaller size means a lesser need for food, which may give them an advantage in competitive food-chain environments like reefs. Manta rays are threatened by a variety of human activities. Their smaller size is likely evolutionary, as they inhabit heavily popular reef areas and island shores. These smaller rays inhabit the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. The Giant Oceanic Manta ray (Manta birostris) and Manta alfredi were proposed to be listed in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in 2011 (FAO, 2013a). They can grow to a width of around 5.5 metres, but generally don’t exceed 4 metres. Reef manta is the smaller form of manta ray, although still the second large ray in the world. When swimming with manta ray, people are often shocked by the size of the animals.īut how big do mantas actually get? Difference Between Giant Manta and Reef Manta They’re absolutely enormous creatures, dwarfing humans by a considerable margin, while seeming to glide around the oceans with little effort.

They can weigh up to 3 metric tons, which is the same as a small elephant, or roughly two Land Rover vehicles. On the list, they appear as the fifth largest fish, behind whale sharks, basking sharks, great white sharks and tiger sharks. Manta rays are one of the largest fish in the sea.

Giant oceanic manta ray conservation