Reef Manta Ray

Superpower

Performs slow backward somersaults to keep feeding in a rich patch of plankton.

At a glance

Size

typically 300 cm, up to 500 cm

Lifespan

40–50 years

Depth

0–300 m

Habitat

Shallow coastal reefs, lagoons and atolls.

Diet

Zooplankton, filtered near the surface.

Can I eat it?

No — this one is not eaten.

Fun facts

• •Reef mantas often gather in groups to feed in spinning 'cyclone' formations.
• •They visit cleaning stations where small fish pick parasites off their skin.
• •They are smaller and more coastal than the giant oceanic manta.