By Helen Briggs BBC News
30 November 2016
Scientists say the giant manta ray, known as a gentle leviathan, is in fact a "predator of the deep" preying on fish and other animals.
The ray, which can grow up to 7m (23ft) across, was thought to feed on tiny floating animals at the surface.
New evidence shows much of the ray's diet is made up of food from the deep.
The finding raises questions about the future of the giant manta ray, which is listed as a vulnerable species.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the fish is likely to become endangered unless its survival chances improve.
Giant manta rays are known to feed on zooplankton drifting on the ocean surface, but a new study suggests the animals could also be getting their food from the depths.
"This was a big surprise," lead researcher Dr Katherine Burgess told BBC News.
"We sometimes see manta rays feeding in surface waters so have always assumed this is where they were getting most of their food from.
"But results from our latest study show that these are just snacking events, and their main source of diet comes from somewhere else - most likely the deep sea [below 200m (650ft)]."
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