Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
Sighting evidence at Aka Island Coral Garden, Kerama Islands
Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC
Reef manta rays visit the north shore cleaning stations from late spring through autumn, hovering motionless above coral bommies while wrasse remove parasites from their gill slits and skin. Individual mantas are identified by their unique spot patterns on the ventral surface, and local operators maintain a photo-ID catalogue spanning more than a decade. Peak visitation coincides with plankton blooms driven by the Kuroshio Current edging close to the islands in summer.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Manta Ray is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.