Species profile
Reef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
Identify Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is an IUCN Vulnerable shark or ray present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 562 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in Hawaii.
Listed under CITES — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Wingspan can reach 5.5 m (18 ft), making it one of the world's largest rays.
- Feeds by funneling plankton-rich water into its mouth using two cephalic fin 'horns.'
- Regularly visits coral reef cleaning stations where small wrasses remove parasites from its skin.
- Can live for 40 years or more in the wild.
- Unlike oceanic mantas, reef mantas tend to remain near the same coral reef systems year-round.
Where Reef Manta Ray are seen
Protected status
- CITES Appendix II (Mobulidae — all manta & devil rays, CoP16/17).
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The reef manta ray is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae, one of the largest rays in the world. Among generally recognized species, it is the third-largest species of ray, surpassed by the Giant oceanic manta ray and the Atlantic manta ray.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Reef Manta Ray article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other sharks & rays on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Reef Manta Ray?
Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is an IUCN Vulnerable shark or ray present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Reef Manta Ray?
Reef Manta Ray is Mobula alfredi.
Are there fishing rules for Reef Manta Ray?
Reef Manta Ray does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Reef Manta Ray?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Reef Manta Ray along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.