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)]."
Continued
Showing posts with label giant manta ray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giant manta ray. Show all posts
Thursday, 1 December 2016
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Indonesia's new protection law for manta rays
February 2014: The giant and reef manta rays have been declared a protected species under Indonesian law by the country’s Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister.
This new law represents a major advancement in efforts to conserve manta rays, which in 2013 were added to the list of species regulated under of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
As of September 2014, all 178 CITES member countries will need to control trade and implement other CITES trade rules for these and several heavily traded shark species so as to ensure that international trade is not a threat to their survival.
“By fully protecting these fishes, the Government of Indonesia has demonstrated its commitment to these new CITES rules while offering real hope for these species’ future in Indonesia and beyond.” said Dr. Stuart Campbell, Director of WCS’s Indonesian Marine Conservation and Fisheries Program.
Monday, 19 March 2012
Giant manta hauled up on ship's anchor off Bonny Island
A giant manta presumably was hauled up dead after becoming entangled in the anchor line of an oil-rig servicing ship off Nigeria's Bonny Island.
The accompanying images were posted to the Nairaland Forum by a user named Pharrod with the following description. (Note: giant mantas are docile and feed on plankton, and do not possess stinging spines, as mentioned below):
The accompanying images were posted to the Nairaland Forum by a user named Pharrod with the following description. (Note: giant mantas are docile and feed on plankton, and do not possess stinging spines, as mentioned below):
"The stinging Manta ray was killed when the oil rig servicing ship anchored at the middle of ocean near Bonny Island. The anchor of the ship brought the stinging ray up while the ship was about to sail. The stinging Manta ray was killed while resting at the ocean floor.
But guess what? It was sold to fishermen that was around when it was killed at the amount of five thousand naira only. It could have been preserved. My friend is one of the people on the ship deck."
But guess what? It was sold to fishermen that was around when it was killed at the amount of five thousand naira only. It could have been preserved. My friend is one of the people on the ship deck."
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