"Blanket" or "cloak", this is how the Spanish word "scat" is translated. The sea devil is also called this majestic and absolutely safe animal.
Manta rays belong to the order Dasyatiformes stingrays (according to other sources - to the order of bracken - Myliobatidae). In the genus Manta, they are the only species in the manta family. Systemators have not yet come to a single opinion about the presence of some orders of stingrays. Some sources point to the existence of an order of eagle rays, including the family of stingrays, others distinguish them into a separate family. However, this is already the field of research of scientists.
The elegance and plasticity of the movement of the stingray is admirable, as if it were floating in a magical flying carpet. sea depths. Manta rays (Manta birostris) are the best known to science. The size and amazing appearance have led to the creation of legends and stories about this extraordinary fish.
A group of manta rays follow plankton Manta already at birth reaches more than one and a half meters in the span of fins, and growing up, it can reach 8 meters and weigh more than 2 tons. It should be noted that not the manta ray is the largest species of stingrays, sawn rays, the size of which reaches 7.6 m from the tips of the snout and tail, take precedence. For the scope and massiveness of the wings-fins of the manta, biologists consider it the largest stingray, a real marine giant.
The appearance of stingrays is unique, their body looks like a diamond-shaped carpet: black on top and bright white on the ventral side. Wide wings-fins, a short whip-shaped tail and the tips of the pectoral fins on the head in the form of horns, with which the slope increases the flow of water into the oral cavity.
The manta ray is just a giant for scuba divers, but absolutely safe for them. The intimidating appearance due to the size and “horns” of the manta is deceptive, the stingrays are safe for humans. However, even a slight flap of the fins-wings can seriously injure a person. V old times there were tales about the bloodthirstiness of manta rays. It was believed that he could grab a person, strangle and eat. But manta rays do not belong to the species of aggressive marine animals and never attack people.
In the way for accumulations of plankton, stingrays can travel thousands of kilometers.
Stingrays live in the warm waters of all oceans except the Arctic. More often they are found in the Indian Ocean, where they form whole flocks. Usually they hover in the water column, absorbing the plankton crop, often resting near the surface, exposing the tips of their pectoral fins to the surface.
Interestingly, manta rays are the most "brainy" fish in the oceans. The specific gravity of the manta brain (relative to body weight) is the largest of known to science fish. It is possible that manta rays are the smartest fish on Earth.
Large manta rays have practically no predators, only parasites cause serious trouble, causing itching and pain, eating flesh. Small individuals often become victims of sharks and other marine predators. Due to the low speed of the manta, no more than 20 km / h,
The manta ray is world famous for its huge size. In the widest part of the body - from one tip of the fin to the other - it can reach 7 meters. Moreover, its weight is about 2 tons.
Manti live in all warm seas and tropical waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans including the Mediterranean Sea.
The second name - "sea devil" - manta received for the head fins located along the edges of the oral fissure. While swimming, they twist into a tube and become like horns. These fins are essential for the stingray to hunt. While swimming, he directs a stream of water into his mouth, rich in plankton and small fish.
"Horns" They travel long distances in search of food. Like, which, by the way, is its closest relative, mantas suck in water and pass it through many gill plates. After filtration, plankton and small fish remain on them. Then the entire catch is sent to the stomach.
Bottom view Manta rays, unlike other rays, spend most of their lives in upper layers open sea. Their swimming is amazing. It can be compared to the soaring flight of a huge bird in the air. The movements of his huge pelvic fins are so smooth and proportionate. Sometimes sea devils can be seen lying on the surface of the water.
In the habitats or migrations of these animals, sometimes an incredible spectacle unfolds above the surface of the water - the frisky jumping of these giants from the water and a deafening landing with a fountain of spray. Sometimes the roar from these jumps is heard at a distance of several kilometers. No one can say for sure what the purpose of these jumps is, but there is an assumption that in this way they attract partners to themselves or stun flocks of small fish.
In these places, you need to be careful not to swim close to their flock, as one of them may accidentally fall on small boat and sink her. This is the only threat that can come from this underwater inhabitant.
One of these cases occurred quite recently - at the end of March of this, when, during a vacation in Florida, a small yacht, which was rented by a married couple with children, jumped giant stingray and pressed the woman with all his weight. But everything ended well. The victim escaped with a fright and a couple of bruises, and the stingray was released back into the sea.
Formerly people they believed that the stingray specifically attacks divers, clasping them with its huge fin, like a cloak, and dragging them to the bottom. By the way, it is for this reason that the stingray got its name "manta", which is translated from Spanish as "cloak".
Small flock of stingrays 
The discovery of this animal occurred in 1792 and belongs to Johann Julius Walbaum, a German doctor, naturalist, zoologist and taxonomist.
Little is known about the reproduction process of these rays. The female brings one cub with a width of about 125 cm and a weight of 10 kg. While he is in the womb, he feeds on her milk. Childbirth occurs very quickly. The baby, one might say, flies out of the womb, rolled up into a tube. Then he spreads his fins and, together with the female, goes on a journey around the world.
These stingrays, despite their size, are quite vulnerable, especially young ones. They do not have any serious means of protection against their main enemies - sharks. They rarely attack adults, but they often have to be driven away from the cubs.
Manta rays are very curious, beautiful and non-aggressive animals, which arouse genuine interest among divers. Many of them dream of swimming next to these underwater inhabitants and someone succeeds.
The sea devil is also called this majestic and absolutely safe animal. The size and amazing appearance have led to the creation of legends and stories about this extraordinary fish.
They are able to make high jumps over water.
sea giant
The large fins of the stingray, similar to wings, reach seven meters. They can completely wrap a whale shark - the most big fish in the world. For the scope and massiveness of the wings-fins of the manta, biologists consider it the largest stingray, a real marine giant.
Habitat
Stingrays live in the warm waters of all oceans except the Arctic. More often they are found in the Indian Ocean, where they form whole flocks. Usually stingrays soar in the water column, absorbing the plankton crop, often resting near the surface, exposing the tips of their pectoral fins.
Stingrays are attracted to air bubbles
brain size
Interestingly, manta rays are the most "brainy" fish in the oceans. The specific gravity of the manta brain (relative to body weight) is the largest fish known to science. It is possible that manta rays are the smartest fish on Earth.
Manta rays feed on plankton, crustaceans and small fish. In the way for accumulations of plankton, stingrays can travel thousands of kilometers. Stingrays feed on plankton interesting way: they line up in a long "chain" and close it in a circle, then the rays quickly move in a circle, thereby creating a "tornado" under water. This funnel sucks in and holds the plankton captive. A feast begins at the stingrays, they absorb their prey.
giant mouth
The mouth of these rays is very wide and is located at the front edge of the head. Like other stingrays, mantas have a peculiar filtering apparatus, consisting of gill plates, on which food is filtered - planktonic crustaceans, small fish.
Man has always been interested unusual inhabitants underwater kingdom. Let's bring Interesting Facts about slopes.
The widespread opinion among scientists that sharks were the predecessors of rays has been refuted by molecular studies. Different kinds stingrays are grouped into groups. Among them are stingrays equipped with special electric organs, therefore called electric, tail-shaped stingrays that grow up to a meter in length. In stingray specimens, the body is shaped like a rhombus. Sawtooth rays show resemblance to sharks.
The largest among the rays are manta rays, often called sea devils. With a three-ton weight, their length reaches 8 meters.
Speaking about interesting facts about stingrays, one cannot fail to note the features of their reproduction. Among the stingrays there are both viviparous and laying egg capsules, called "mermaid purses". The shape of such capsules is the most intricate; inside this shell is a fertilized egg.
Like many inhabitants of the seas, stingrays are able to change their color in order to merge with the color of the bottom, on which they lie, waiting for prey.
Stingrays are very common, they live both in the seas and oceans, and in freshwater reservoirs. Moreover, they can live at different depths - some species prefer shallow water, while others are attracted by the depths of the oceans, up to 2.7 km.
The most famous are the ability of stingrays to inflict electric shocks, or rather entire series - up to hundreds of strokes in a row. It is worth noting that the current voltage during such shocks is not small - up to 200 volts.
Nai great danger for people they represent stingrays. This species is capable of inflicting poison from poisonous cells with which their tail spike up to 37 centimeters long is dotted. The result can be paralysis of skeletal muscles and a sharp decrease in blood pressure in a person.
It's funny that the stingray is unable to see the food it eats, since its mouth is located in the lower part of the body, and its eyes are on upper surface his head.
When searching for prey, stingrays mainly use their sense of touch, and sight and smell only complement it. Numerous electroreceptors act as the organ of touch for the stingray. The stingray is able, for example, to feel the impulse created by the contracting muscle of a fish swimming nearby.
Stingray skin is traditionally used for belts and original wallets. Stingray meat is included in the menu of the peoples of a number of countries.
An interesting view where you can see how stingrays fly:
Among all other inhabitants of the seas and oceans, stingrays stand out especially, mainly due to their unusualness. Looking at how they flutter in the water column, one immediately remembers the birds, which are also at ease in the air. However, most stingrays prefer to stay near the bottom, looking for food for themselves, and in order to admire them, divers have to hunt them down for a long time. But not all stingrays are harmless! Some of them can be very dangerous, although they do not attack people first - defending themselves, they can even kill a person carelessly approaching them.
