Rare rays have favourite reefs

Researchers studying the lifestyle of reef manta rays – one of the world’s biggest fish – have found that they are mostly creatures of habit. The rays, which can grow to five metres across and weigh up to 700 kilograms, live in large numbers in Indonesia’s Komodo National Park. They swim in shallow waters near the coast, often visiting “cleaning stations” on coral reefs, where small fish pick off dead skin and itchy pests. As a result, Komodo has become a popular place for tourists keen to dive and see these giants up close. Until now, however, scientists haven’t really known how many rays there are and how much they move around. A team from the Marine Megafauna Foundation (“megafauna” is a scientific word for large animals) and Murdoch University…

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The Week Junior (Digital) - 1 Issue, 337

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