Editing Manta ray (section)

==Taxonomy==
Manta rays are members of the order [[Myliobatiformes]] which consists of [[stingray]]s and their relatives.<ref name="Dean"/> The genus ''Manta'' is part of the eagle ray [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Myliobatidae]], where it is grouped in the subfamily [[Mobulidae|Mobulinae]] along with the smaller ''[[Mobula]]'' devil rays.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fishbase.org/summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=22 |title=Family Myliobatidae – Eagle and manta rays | editor=Froese, R. | editor2=Pauly, D.l | year=2011  |work=FishBase |access-date=February 9, 2013}}</ref> In 2018, an analysis of DNA, and to a lesser degree, [[Morphology (biology)|morphology]], found that ''Mobula'' was [[paraphyletic]] with respect to the manta rays; that is, some members of genus ''Mobula''  are closer related to the members of the genus ''Manta'' than they are to fellow ''Mobula'', and the researchers recommended treating ''Manta'' as a [[junior synonym]] of ''Mobula''.<ref name="White et al 2018">{{cite journal|author=White, W. T.|author2=Corrigan, S.|author3=Yang, L.|author4=Henderson, A. C.|author5=Bazinet, A. L.|author6=Swofford, D. L.|author7= Naylor, G. J. P.|year=2018|title=Phylogeny of the manta and devilrays (Chondrichthyes: mobulidae), with an updated taxonomic arrangement for the family|journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society|volume=182|page=zlx018|doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx018|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Mantas evolved from bottom-dwelling stingrays, eventually developing more wing-like pectoral fins.<ref>{{cite web|author=Martin, R. A.|title=Manta Ray (''Manta birostris'') FAQ|publisher=ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research|access-date=April 23, 2013|url=http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/topics/lh_manta_faq.htm}}</ref> ''M. birostris'' still has a [[Vestigiality|vestigial]] remnant of a sting barb in the form of a [[Caudal (anatomical term)|caudal]] spine.<ref name=MarshallCompagnoBennett/> The mouths of most rays lie on the underside of the head, while in mantas, they are right at the front.<ref name=flmnh/> The edges of the jaws line up while in devil rays, the lower jaw shifts back when the mouth closes.<ref name=Guide/>{{rp|14}} Manta rays and devil rays are the only ray species that have evolved into filter feeders.<ref name="Dean">{{cite journal|author1=Dean, M. N. |author2=Bizzarro, J. J. |author3=Summers, A. P. |title=The evolution of cranial design, diet, and feeding mechanisms in batoid fishes|journal=Integrative and Comparative Biology|year=2007|volume=47|issue=1|pages=70–81|doi=10.1093/icb/icm034|pmid=21672821|doi-access=free}}</ref> Manta rays have dorsal slit-like spiracles, traits which they share with the [[devil fish]] and [[Chilean devil ray]].<ref name="White et al 2018"/>
{{cladogram|align=right|
{{clade
|label1='''''Mobula'''''
|1={{clade
   |1=[[Chilean devil ray]] (''M. tarapacana'')
   |2={{clade
      |1={{clade
         |1=[[Lesser devil ray]] (''M. hypostoma'')
         |2=[[Mobula munkiana|Munk's devil ray]] (''M. munkiana'')
         }}
      |2={{clade
         |1={{clade
            |1={{clade
               |1=[[Reef manta ray]] (''M. alfredi'')
               |2=[[Giant oceanic manta ray]] (''M. birostris'')
               }}
            |2={{clade
               |1=[[Devil fish]] (''M. mobular'')
               }}
            }}
         |2={{clade
            |1=[[Bentfin devil ray]] (''M. thurstoni'')
            |2=[[Mobula kuhlii|Shortfin devil ray]] (''M. kuhlii'')
            }}
         }}
      }}
   }}
}}
|caption=Phylogeny of manta rays within ''Mobula''<ref name="White et al 2018"/>
}}

===Species===
The scientific naming of mantas has had a convoluted history, during which several names were used for both the [[genus]] (''Ceratoptera'', ''Brachioptilon'', ''Daemomanta'', and ''Diabolicthys'') and [[species]] (such as ''vampyrus'', ''americana'', ''johnii'', and ''hamiltoni''). All were eventually treated as [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]]s of the single species ''Manta birostris''.<ref name=Fishbase/><ref name=flmnh/><ref name=calacad>{{cite web|title=Database of Fishes |publisher=California Academy of Sciences |access-date=April 23, 2013 |url=http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503081145/http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp |archive-date=May 3, 2015 }} Check genus and type "Manta" in search box.</ref> The genus name ''Manta'' was first published in 1829 by Dr [[Edward Nathaniel Bancroft]] of Jamaica.<ref name=Fishbase>{{cite web|author=Bailly, N.|year=2013|title=''Manta'' Bancroft, 1829|publisher=World Register of Marine Species FishBase|url=http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=105755&allchildren=1|access-date=April 16, 2013}}; see E.N. Bancroft ''On the fish known in Jamaica as the sea-devil'', 1829</ref> The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] '' birostris'' is ascribed to [[Johann Julius Walbaum]] (1792) by some authorities and to Johann August Donndorff (1798) by others.<ref name=calacad/> The specific name ''alfredi'' was first used by Australian zoologist [[Gerard Krefft]], who named the manta after [[Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Prince Alfred]].<ref name=flmnh>{{cite web |url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/manta-birostris/ |title=Manta |publisher=Florida Museum of Natural History |access-date=November 11, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Whitley, G. P. |year=1936 |title=The Australian devil ray, ''Daemomanta alfredi'' (Krefft), with remarks on the superfamily Mobuloidea (order Batoidei) |journal=Australian Zoologist |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=164–188}}</ref>

A 2009 study analyzed the differences in morphology, including color, [[Meristics|meristic variation]], spine, [[dermal denticle]]s (tooth-like scales), and teeth of different populations. Two distinct species emerged: the smaller ''[[Manta alfredi|M. alfredi]]'' found in the [[Indo-Pacific]] and [[Tropics|tropical]] East Atlantic, and the larger ''[[Manta birostris|M. birostris]]'' found throughout tropical, [[Subtropics|subtropical]] and warm [[Temperate climate|temperate]] oceans.<ref name=MarshallCompagnoBennett>{{cite journal |author1=Marshall, A. D. |author2=Compagno, L. J. V. |author3=Bennett, M. B. |title=Redescription of the genus ''Manta'' with resurrection of ''Manta alfredi'' (Krefft, 1868) (Chondrichthyes; Myliobatoidei; Mobulidae)  |year=2009 |journal=Zootaxa |volume=2301 |pages=1–28 |issn=1175-5326 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.2301.1.1 |s2cid=81789023 }}</ref> The former is more coastal,<ref name=iucn>{{Cite iucn | author = Marshall, A. | author2 = Kashiwagi, T. | author3 = Bennett, M.B. | author4 = Deakos, M. | author5 = Stevens, G. | author6 = McGregor, F. | author7 = Clark, T. | author8 = Ishihara, H. | author9 = Sato, K. | name-list-style = amp | title = ''Manta alfredi'' | volume = 2011 | page = e.T195459A8969079 | date = 2011 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T195459A8969079.en }}</ref> while the latter is more ocean-going and [[Fish migration|migratory]].<ref name="IUCN"/> A 2010 study on mantas around [[Japan]] confirmed the morphological and genetic differences between ''M. birostris'' and ''M. alfredi''.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Ito, T. |author2=Kashiwagi, T. |title=Morphological and genetic identification of two species of manta ray occurring in Japanese waters: ''Manta birostris'' and ''M. alfredi'' |year=2010 |journal=Report of Japanese Society for Elasmobranch Studies |volume=46 |pages=8–10}}</ref>

A third possible species, preliminarily called ''Manta ''sp. cf. ''birostris'', reaches at least {{convert|6|m|abbr=on}} in width, and inhabits the tropical West Atlantic, including the Caribbean.<ref name=MarshallCompagnoBennett/>

===Fossil record===
While some small teeth have been found, few fossilized skeletons of manta rays have been discovered. Their cartilaginous skeletons do not preserve well, as they lack the [[calcification]] of the [[Osteichthyes|bony fish]]. Only three sedimentary beds bearing manta ray fossils are known, one from the [[Oligocene]] in [[South Carolina]] and two from the [[Miocene]] and [[Pliocene]] in [[North Carolina]].<ref name=paleobiology>{{cite web|url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=34738&is_real_user=1|title=''Manta'' Bancroft 1829 (manta)|work=Paleobiology Database|access-date=12 November 2024}}Click on "Age range and collections".</ref> ''[[Manta hynei|M. hynei]]'' is a fossil species dating to [[Early Pliocene]] North America.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bourdon |first= Jim |date=1999 |title=A fossil ''Manta'' from the Early Pliocene (Zanclean) of North America |journal=Tertiary Research |volume=19 |issue=3–4 |pages=79–84}}</ref> Remains of an extinct species have been found in the [[Chandler Bridge Formation]] of South Carolina. These were originally described as ''Manta fragilis'', but were later reclassified as ''[[Paramobula fragilis]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Cicimurri, D. J. |author2=Knight, J. L. |year=2009 |title=Late Oligocene sharks and rays from the Chandler Bridge Formation, Dorchester County, South Carolina, USA |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=627–647 |doi=10.4202/app.2008.0077 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=paleobiology/>