Like humans’ fingerprints, the underside of a manta ray has markings unique to that specific manta ray. No two humans are alike, especially when it comes down to their fingerprints. Manta rays also share another trait with human beings: uniqueness. Some even show signs of self-awareness like being able to recognize themselves in mirrors, a trait only shared between a few select mammals, humans, and the manta ray. Manta rays have the largest brain of any fish so they are definitely some smart cookies! Their brains have particularly developed areas for problem solving, learning, and communicating. Not only are manta rays cute and elegant, but they are also extremely intelligent. I mean just look at these guys! They’re so cute and elegant! Assorted species of plankton I think this nickname is completely underserving. These fins-or horns-are what earned manta rays a common nickname for them: the devilfish. In order to feed on these microorganisms, they use their two cephalic fins (can also be called cephalic lobes, cephalic horns, or devil horns) to push the plankton into their mouths. They feed primarily on tiny little organisms called plankton. In fact, manta rays are very safe to be around they do not eat fish and don’t even have teeth! Similar to whales, manta rays are filter feeders. Their tail is not barbed like a stingray’s tail is, so the manta ray’s tail is perfectly safe. Their wingspan (or maybe we can call it finspan in this case) can be up to 23 feet and they can weigh up to 4,000 pounds! Connected to their colossal bodies, is the manta ray’s tail. Some species of manta rays are smaller or bigger than others, however, they all have the same general shape: A long flat body with long flat fins at either side. I’m sure we are all familiar with the term ray (think of a stingray) but what does manta mean? Turns out, manta is Spanish for blanket these guys are blanket rays! It’s pretty straightforward to see how they got this adorable name: their gargantuan size and flat shape. I am going to delve into some facts about the manta ray (specifically the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray) in order to make you all as excited about these beautiful creatures as 14 year old me was. Safe to say, the manta rays got me quite excited. If you see how they swim, I think you would also agree with those characteristics. One of the various creatures I met at the Georgia Aquarium were manta rays! I was in awe by everything the manta ray represented: beauty, elegance, smoothness, and tranquility. There were so many different and unique exhibits there and I can go on and on about each and every exhibit (I’ll mention an experience at this aquarium in a later blog post) but, I will not drone on about those experiences in this post. Besides the Academic Games, there was one experience I was stoked about: going to the Georgia Aquarium, the United State’s largest aquarium. I was able to make it to the national competition multiple times and one year the national competition was held in Atlanta, Georgia. In my school’s gifted program, we participated in the AGLOA Academic Games. A Giant Oceanic Manta Ray with a diver for scaleĮver since I was little, I have been diagnosed as gifted.
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