Generally, female rays tend to be larger than males and can only be classified if you’re close enough to notice scarring on the back ventral side or fin tips, a sign that the ray is female and has mated with a male ray. Unlike stingrays, manta rays do not possess a “stinger ” they have a harmless, slender tail. In both groups, their mouths are located at the front of their bodies and they possess cephalic or “head” fins which enable them to funnel food and water more easily. Rays under alfredi are generally smaller, reaching a maximum wingspan of 18 feet, and can easily be identified by their big, blotchy spot patterns located on their ventral side. Rays under birostris have few spots on their ventral side, with wide, gray bands along the back edge of the wings and can reach a wingspan up to 23 feet. Manta rays have countershading coloration, meaning they are dark on top (the dorsal side) and light on the bottom (ventral side). These two groups are extremely similar in looks and behavior, but you can tell them apart by their coloration and markings. Manta rays are classified into two different species groups, the birostris and alfredi. There are major differences, however, that can enable you to identify a manta ray from a stingray. Their eyes are located on their dorsal (top) side, and they have a long, eerie tail. They both have pectoral fins that have developed into wide, triangular wings, enabling them to glide easily through the water. Both manta rays and stingrays are related to sharks under the cartilaginous fish group chondrichthyes, meaning their structure is built on material similar to that found in our nose and ears. Let’s face it, manta rays and stingrays look pretty similar and you can only spot the differences if you know what you’re looking for.
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