Species: Manta birostris, Giant Manta, the Manta

Manta birostris (Walbaum, 1792)

Manta, Giant manta

Disc rhomboidal, wider than long; head relatively wide, projecting with a pair of paddle-like extensions; large triangular "wings" (pectoral fin flaps); mouth at front of head, relatively wide; teeth in lower jaw only; tail long and whip-like, without spines; disc above and below covered with small denticles.

Dark grey to black above; mouth black to dark grey, that color often extending back to first gill slits; very distinct whitish patches on shoulders, that are triangular & with a large rear facing hook on inner side, front edge of shoulder patch runs from spiracle to a line parallel to edge of top jaw; underside white, with a pair of large, semicircular dark blotches immediately behind last gill slit, no spots centrally between gill slits; typically with entire rear edge of pectoral fin dark

Size: to at least 8 m disc width and over two tons in weight.

Habitat: inshore and offshore pelagic.

Depth: 0-217 m.

Circumtropical; the Gulf of California to northern Peru.