Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
Sighting evidence at Speery Island Pinnacles, Saint Helena Island
Photo: Programa Marino del Golfo de California · CC BY-NC
Oceanic manta rays visit the Speery pinnacles during plankton bloom events between November and March, cruising in slow, graceful circuits over the pinnacle tops with their cephalic fins unfurled to funnel zooplankton into their filter-plate mouths. These are among the largest individuals recorded in the South Atlantic — disc widths of 4 to 5 metres are common — and their satellite tag data suggests they make extended transoceanic passages between Saint Helena and the Brazilian coast. Cleaning station behaviour has been observed at the deeper pinnacles where small wrasse remove parasites from the rays' gill plates and skin surfaces.
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.