Species profile
Reef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
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
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.