how do they mate?
The mating sequence may be triggered by a full moon and seems to be initiated by a male following closely behind a female while she travels.
Manta ray
The mating sequence may be triggered by a full moon and seems to be initiated by a male following closely behind a female while she travels
do manta rays have barbs on their tails UNANSWERABLE what is this animal? These are large rays belonging to the genus "Mobula". where can it be found? They are found in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters. which species is it? "Manta birostris" can they be found in captivity as well? Rarely: a few are "Nandi" (uShaka Marine World); "Zeus" (The Atlantis resort); and those in the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. how does it look? Broad heads, triangular pectoral fins, and horn-shaped cephalic fins located on either side of their mouths, tails lack skeletal support and are shorter than their disc-like bodies, typically black or dark in color with pale markings on their "shoulders". from where does it get its name? From Portuguese and Spanish for mantle (cloak or blanket). have fossils of them been found? Only three sedimentary beds bearing manta ray fossils are known, one from the Oligocene in South Carolina and two from the Miocene and Pliocene in North Carolina. who found them? UNANSWERABLE how long do they live for? They may live as long as 50 years.
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Manta ray [SEP] Lifecycle
Mating takes place at different times of the year in different parts of the manta's range. Courtship is difficult to observe in this fast-swimming fish, although mating "trains" with multiple individuals swimming closely behind each other are sometimes seen in shallow water. The mating sequence may be triggered by a full moon and seems to be initiated by a male following closely behind a female while she travels at around . He makes repeated efforts to grasp her pectoral fin with his mouth, which may take 20 to 30 minutes. Once he has a tight grip, he turns upside-down and presses his ventral side against hers.