Manta can be found in tropical oceans around the world - approximately between latitudes 35o north to 35o south latitude. Spreading wide and unique appearance caused this fish has many names ranging from "Pacific manta", "Atlantic manta", "devil fish" to "sea devil". In Indonesia alone, manta rays have various local names such as es necklace, plampangan, and pari buffalo (perhaps because parts of the body like a horn on his head so that he was considered similar to a buffalo).
Manta rays later categorized as "close to a threat" (near threatened) by the IUCN because although the number has not been categorized as endangered, but the estimated future population will shrink until it is threatened with extinction. The population of manta rays are considered in imminent danger due to high fishing activity and increasingly polluted sea conditions, but their low birth rate.
Classification.
Manta put in Myliobatidae family consisting of 40 different species of stingray. Family of stingray is also known as the "eagle rays" (eagle ray) because they do not live on the ocean floor and swim freely so that when they are viewed at a glance like the eagle "flying" in the sea. Myliobatidae family is divided into 4 subfamily and manta rays put in Mobulinae subfamily that also filled by a stingray of the genus Mobula which have a similar appearance manta rays but smaller in size. The name "manta" itself comes from the Spanish language meaning "blanket".There are 3 species previously considered part of the genus Manta: Manta birostris (Atlantic manta rays), Manta hamiltoni (Pacific manta rays), and Manta highway (Prince Alfred's manta rays). Third manta rays themselves are very similar to each other. Later, after an examination of the examples of their genes, all three species were included in the same species: species birostris Manta.
However, some are saying that there are at least two species of manta: one large and migratory, while the other is smaller and would rather settle.
Anatomy.
Manta has a physical broadly similar to most stingray with wide pectoral fins and a small tail like a whip. Fin width makes her chest look flat. Manta wear fins chest moves by making waves on the section near the back of the head to the body so that when seen, manta rays as if he were flying around in the sea. Manta own tail is shorter than most of the stingray's tail and stingless. Skin manta also shrouded slime layer is much thicker than most stingrays. The mucus layer is suspected nothing to protect vulnerable skin. Manta also has a larger brain size than other stingrays and sharks relatives so that they are considered more intelligent than other relatives.Characteristic of the manta is a pair of "horns" near his mouth. "Horn" is actually a pair of fins sefala (head) which helps incorporate sea water containing plankton food and can be bent into the mouth. In the mouth there is also a 300 peg-shaped teeth small and almost hidden under the skin. These teeth are not used to eat, but the tooth may be useful when manta mating. Manta also has five pairs of gill slits in the bottom of the body to remove water that enters through the mouth. On the inside there is a gill slit gill filters or disc filters (filter plate) which serves to trap plankton that go along with sea water.
Manta has a variety of colors, ranging from black, blue-gray, brown, to almost white. Color pattern on the body also varies manta where the manta rays found in the eastern Pacific the lower part of his body is predominantly black, while the type of manta rays are found in the western Pacific, the lower part of his body pale color. It is not known what the cause of the coloring function and this varies, but the color varies easier for scientists to distinguish manta from one region to other regions. Another unique thing about the coloring manta is they have some sort of pattern on the shoulders and down her body and these patterns differ in each individual mantas that are considered similar to fingerprints in humans.
Behavior.
Manta rays are animals that generally has a calm behavior. He also showed friendly behavior with the divers so that divers who happened to be nearby can hold and even ride. He is also commonly seen near sea level and around coral reefs. Manta rays can be found in fairly large quantities in areas rich in plankton, manta rays are known but not showing signs of social interaction with each other and form a group.Food.
Manta is known as one of the big fish that eat plankton (filter feeders). He opened his mouth to eat in a way so that the plankton while swimming in the water that goes into his mouth. He can also use a pair of horn-like fins head to direct plankton that went into his mouth. In this way it is considered passively hunt because he does not chase their prey to eat. Manta is also known to take small animals such as shrimp and juvenile fish.Reproduction.
In the breeding season, a large number of manta will gather to find a mating partner. Some manta males compete with each other to get the manta female partner. Manta male who managed to get a female manta fins partner will be holding on to use his teeth and clenched his stomach, then begin entering the marriage with his genitals into the female genital opening. The marriage lasted for approximately 90 seconds.Ovovivipar manta ray is where the eggs hatch while still inside the mother's body. A female manta manta could bring 2 babies at once in the body. The period of "gestation" manta itself is not known for certain, but the possibility can last between 9-12 months. The newly hatched baby manta and out of its mother's body with fins that are still folded condition. Baby manta become active as soon as he developed fins and can immediately begin to swim. A newborn baby manta known to be measuring 1.2 meters wide and weighing 45 kg. Baby manta can grow very fast due within one year, their body width has reached nearly 2 times the width when first born.
Maximum age manta rays themselves are known to reach 20 years.
Jumping from water.
Manta is famous because he can jump out of the water and because of its large size, it always attracts attention while making the leap. There are several theories as to why they jump out of the water. They may do it to escape from predators or to remove parasites that attach to the body. Other theories, manta use it to communicate with each other. Manta is also expected to jump out of the water to show strength when it was looking for a partner.Interaction with other animals.
Small fish known to be near the manta. One species of marine fish are most commonly known to love being near the manta is a remora fish (Echeneida sp.). This fish is commonly found attached to the underside of a manta wearing some kind of suction on her upper body. Remora got to stick to the mantas advantage because he is protected from predators, and he obtained a "free food" in the form of the parasite that attaches to the skin manta.Predators.
Marine animals known as manta rays are the main prey of sharks such as tiger sharks (Galeocerdo Cuvier). Manta does not have such a defense tool or the sting of sharp teeth so he relied on his swimming ability to escape from his enemies (including possibly by jumping out of the water). Manta is also known to wear fins chest to hit his attacker.Gallery;
So, thank you for reading this article. Written and posted by Bambang Sunarno.
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name: Bambang Sunarno.
http://primadonablog.blogspot.com/2014/02/did-you-know-about-fish-manta.html
DatePublished: February 12, 2014 at 20:35
7MHPNPADAEFWTag ; Fish Manta.
