Behaviour
Manta rays frequently visit cleaning stations where small fish such as wrasse, remora, and angelfish swim in the manta's gills and over its skin to feed, in the process cleaning it of parasites and dead tissue. Like other species in the shark family they must swim to keep from sinking, so their stay at a cleaning station is characterised by slow circuits.
Mantas sometimes breach the surface, launching themselves into the air.
The Maldives are a hotspot for plankton and consequently for reef mantas. A population estimated at about 5,000 are resident throughout the year with some oceanic mantas being sighted as well.
They are often described as "flying" through the water on their large "wings", and individuals have been observed to jump clear out of the water, possibly in a form of communication or play.
Read more about this topic: Manta Ray
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