Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
Sighting evidence at Passe Houareau, Aldabra Atoll
Photo: Programa Marino del Golfo de California · CC BY-NC
Oceanic manta rays, the largest rays in the world with wingspans exceeding 7 metres, pass through Aldabra's channels on transoceanic migration routes spanning thousands of kilometres across the Indian Ocean. They feed by filter-feeding dense aggregations of zooplankton that accumulate at thermocline fronts, sometimes barrel-rolling repeatedly through particularly rich patches to maximise intake. Aldabra represents one of very few sites in the Indian Ocean where oceanic rather than reef mantas are reliably encountered.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Oceanic Manta Ray is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.