The Devil Ray By: Kyle & Jake

Common & Scientific Name The Devil Ray is more commonly known as the Manta Ray and can also be known as an Atlantic manta, Pacific manta, devilfish, and just manta. Its Scientific name is manta mobula or manta birostris.

Scientific Classifications Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Rajiformes Family: Myliobatidae Genus: Manta Species: M. birostris

The Devil Ray, is the largest of the rays. The largest known Devil Ray was more than 7.6 m (close to 25 ft) wide and had a weight of about 2,300 kg (around 5,000 lb).

Location of the Rays The Devil Ray ranges throughout all tropical waters of the world, typically around coral reefs.

Food Devil Rays are filter feeders. They feed on plankton and fish larvae which is filtered from the water passing though their gills as they swim.

Two Facts Because of the rays size. It can only be found in four aquariums in the world, where it has is 62-million-gallons exhibit. The Devil Ray is known to breach the water into the air.

Human Impact The biggest impact that the devil ray currently has, comes from tourism, with dive industries that bring in tourists that want to swim along side of these gentle giants. The devil ray can sometimes be found caught in fishing nexts, but is not normally fished itself. There has also been myths that a devil ray can capsize a boat by leaping out of the water and crashing down upon ones boat.