Reef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Elasmobranchii
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Mobulidae
- Genus
- Mobula
- Species
- Mobula alfredi
The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is the manta most often seen by divers in the Philippines, gliding over reefs and cleaning stations. It has a black back with pale shoulder patches and a white belly marked with unique dark spots that identify individuals.
It reaches wingspans of 3-5 m and filters plankton with its open mouth, guided by the cephalic fins on either side of its head. Its larger relative, the oceanic manta (Mobula birostris), can exceed 7 m and is seen less often, usually in deeper offshore water.
In the Philippines reef mantas visit cleaning stations and feeding areas at well-known sites, and are best watched by staying low and still and letting them approach.
Photo: R Vasconcellos, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist