Oceanic manta ray

Lewis Burnett, South Australian Museum

Images of animals that will be featured in the event “Projecting Change: The Empire State Building.”

The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae, and the largest type of ray in the world. They are circumglobal and are typically found in tropical and subtropical waters, but can also be found in temperate waters. Until 2017, giant mantas were classified in the genus Manta, along with the smaller reef manta (Mobula alfredi). DNA testing revealed that both species are more closely related to rays of the genus Mobula than previously thought. As a…

Last month, Indonesia established the world’s largest sanctuary for manta rays -- those enormous, finned fortresses that can reach nearly 30 feet across. For the first time, manta ray hunting and export is banned within the entire 2.3 million square miles of Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone.

A manta ray banks over a shoal of fish. Happy New Year everyone!