For decades, we believed there was only one type of manta ray gliding through our oceans. Then, in 2009, researchers discovered two distinct species. Now, mounting evidence suggests a third kind exists in the Caribbean waters – it’s challenging everything we thought we knew about these majestic but mysterious marine creatures.
This proposed third species, currently called the Caribbean manta ray (Mobula cf. birostris), has marine biologists excited about what other discoveries might lurk beneath the waves. The “cf.” in its scientific name indicates that while it’s similar to the oceanic manta (Mobula birostris), scientists believe it’s distinct enough to qualify as its own species, potentially.
The Discovery Journey
The story of the Caribbean manta begins with Dr. Andrea Marshall. In 2009, she demonstrated that what we once thought was a single species was two distinct manta rays: the reef manta and the oceanic manta. According to Hakai Magazine, during her research, Marshall suspected there might even be a third irregularly colored manta species, but these rays proved difficult to study closely.
Fast forward to 2021, a collaborative study led by researchers, including Josh Stewart of the Manta Trust and Emily Humble from the University of Edinburgh, provided the strongest genetic evidence yet for this third species. Stewart described the significance of this finding: “The fact that we are still identifying new species of megafauna is amazing. These aren’t tiny gobies that can go around undetected.”
The research team faced a significant challenge in collecting genetic samples. Unlike reef mantas that frequent predictable locations, oceanic mantas roam vast areas of the open ocean. To gather specimens, Stewart traveled to a manta nursery near coral outcroppings in the northern Gulf of Mexico, while other researchers often relied on tissue samples from fish markets.
Perhaps most intriguing was the discovery of an apparent hybrid manta—a cross between an oceanic ray and a Caribbean ray. According to Humble, this suggests that the two species may have diverged relatively recently in evolutionary terms and are “still on the way to becoming completely separate evolutionary lineages.”
How to Identify a Caribbean Manta Ray
The Caribbean manta has proven particularly challenging to identify, as its appearance is highly variable. Stewart described them as “always kind of look like a bizarre mix of things.”
According to the Manta Trust, the key distinguishing features include:
- A dorsal surface with white shoulder markings forming two mirror-image right-angled triangles, creating a distinctive ‘T’ shape in black
- Unlike the oceanic manta’s T-shaped marking that maintains an even width, the Caribbean manta’s marking tapers together where it joins the back, resembling a Tesla logo
- Ventral spots clustered around the lower abdominal region, if present
- Often having large patches of round or oblong shaded areas on the belly below the gills
- Distinctive dermal denticles (skin teeth) that differ in shape from both oceanic and reef mantas
The Caribbean manta ray is closer in size to reef mantas than to the larger oceanic species. They typically measure 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) across, with a maximum recorded width of 5 meters (16.5 feet) – significantly smaller than the oceanic manta’s impressive 7-meter (23-foot) wingspan.
You’ll find plenty of close-up photos of the Caribbean manta ray on this website.
Where Caribbean Mantas Live
These distinctive rays appear throughout the reef habitats of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, where they share territory with the oceanic manta ray. According to the Manta Caribbean Project, they occupy a similar ecological niche to reef mantas in other parts of the world.
Scientists theorize that pioneering oceanic mantas may have crossed the open ocean to the Caribbean, found plentiful food sources along the inshore reefs, and gradually evolved into a new species, essentially replicating the evolutionary path that produced reef mantas.
The most reliable place to spot these animals is in the Mexican Caribbean, where they’re frequently seen feeding. As noted by the Manta Caribbean Project, while all three manta species have been sighted in these waters, it’s primarily the Caribbean manta (Mobula cf. birostris) that researchers encounter.
Conservation Status and Concerns
Since the Caribbean manta isn’t yet formally recognized as its own species, it hasn’t received an independent conservation status assessment. Currently, it’s grouped with the oceanic manta ray, which is listed as globally endangered on the IUCN Red List.
In Mexico, mantas receive some protection under NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 in the category of Special Protection. However, they face threats from fishing both for food and for their gill rakers, which are used in some traditional medicine practices.
The Caribbean manta’s limited range could make it particularly vulnerable to regional threats, including fishing pressure, habitat degradation, and pollution, especially microplastics, which the Manta Caribbean Project identifies as a significant concern.
The Mysteries that Remain
The Caribbean manta exemplifies how much we still have to learn about our oceans’ inhabitants. Despite their massive size and the fact that they’ve lived alongside human coastal communities for generations, an entire species of giant ray remained scientifically unrecognized until recently.
Scientists are still working to gather enough evidence for a formal description of the species, with Marshall hoping the process could be completed soon. This research highlights the importance of continued marine exploration and the value of protecting habitats that may harbor species we’ve yet to understand fully.
We at Manta Ray Advocates find this developing story fascinating. The discovery of a potential third manta species reinforces what we’ve long known – that these gentle giants still hold many mysteries, and continued research is essential for both understanding and protecting them.
Ready to Learn More?
If you find the Caribbean manta fascinating, you might want to explore more about its closest relative, the reef manta ray. Read our comprehensive guide to reef mantas here and download our free Manta Ray Facts & Figures ebook to discover more about these magnificent creatures.
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