what dangers do they face?
Overfishing
Manta ray
The greatest threat to manta rays is overfishing. "M. birostris" is not evenly distributed over the oceans
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. 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. describe their interactions with humans Historically, mantas were feared for their size and power; this attitude changed around 1978, when divers around the Gulf of California found them to be placid and that they could interact with the animals. in the resorts you mentioned earlier, are they used as tourist attractions? No, it was used for research.
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Manta ray [SEP] Threats
The greatest threat to manta rays is overfishing. "M. birostris" is not evenly distributed over the oceans, but is concentrated in areas that provide the food resources it requires, while "M. alfredi" is even more localized. Their distributions are thus fragmented, with little evidence of intermingling of subpopulations. Because of their long lifespans and low reproductive rate, overfishing can severely reduce local populations with little likelihood that individuals from elsewhere will replace them. Both commercial and artisanal fisheries have targeted mantas for their meat and products. They are typically caught with nets, trawls, and harpoons. Mantas were once captured by fisheries in California and Australia for their liver oil and skin; the latter were used as abrasives.