Quck answer
Manta rays and stingrays are both members of the ray family, but they have several differences. Manta rays are much larger than stingrays and have a triangular body shape with wide wings. Stingrays have a diamond-shaped body and a long tail with a stinger. Manta rays are filter feeders and usually eat plankton, while stingrays are opportunistic predators that eat a variety of prey. Manta rays are harmless to humans, while some species of stingrays can be dangerous if provoked. Overall, while they may look similar, manta rays and stingrays have distinct differences in their appearance, behavior, and diet.
Wild Animals
The giant oceanic manta ray (Manta birostris) is the biggest ray in the world and can measure up to 29 feet (8.8 meters) across. James R.D. Scott/Getty Images
It is easy to mistake a manta ray for a stingray as they both have large, flat bodies, heads attached directly to wide, triangular pectoral fins, and similar tail-like appendages. They are also members of the Chondrichthyes class of cartilaginous fish, which also includes sharks and chimaeras.
Despite being related, there are many differences between these two rays. For one, there are only two species of manta rays compared to over 200 varieties of stingrays.
The stingray has a flat body and large pectoral fins that can either give it a rounded shape or a diamond shape with pointed fins. “Unlike manta rays, stingrays have long, thin tails, and many have a small stinger (or barb) near the base of the tail,” says Erin McCombs, education supervisor for California’s Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, via an email interview.
A manta ray, on the other hand, is a type of stingray. “Through evolutionary history, they have lost their stinger, but developed several other unique adaptations, including the cephalic lobes (specialized flaps on the front of their face that help them to filter tiny plankton from the water),” McCombs explains.
Another difference is that a stingray’s mouth is located on the underside of its body, while a manta ray’s mouth is situated along its front edge.
If this is all a little confusing, don’t worry. Once you are more familiar with these two sea creatures, it becomes easy to tell them apart. Here are seven fun facts that will help you differentiate between the two as well as provide you with additional insight into both species.
The bluespotted ribbontail ray is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae.
Dmitry Miroshnikov/Getty Images
1. Manta Rays are Huge
“The giant oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) is the largest ray, with a wingspan of up to 29 feet [8.8 meters],” says Kim Stone, curator of fish and invertebrates at Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, in an email interview. “[Others] can grow to 20 feet [6 meters] across from wingtip to wingtip.” In comparison, stingrays are much smaller. The smallest is the short-nose electric ray, which grows to just under 4 inches (10 centimeters) across.
2. They Have Different Diets
Manta rays are filter feeders and consume plankton such as fish eggs, krill, and other tiny floating animals. Stingrays, on the other hand, prey on fish, gastropods, crustaceans, and other small animals. “During feeding, manta rays may repeatedly somersault underwater and also occasionally break the surface. They also feed in a horizontal orientation,” says Stone.
Most stingrays use flat teeth to crush the hard shells of animals such as crabs and clams. They live on the seafloor, often burying themselves in the sand to camouflage. Manta rays, however, use their cephalic lobes to direct small food items into their mouths. They live in the open ocean and do not spend time resting on the seafloor. “Stingrays use a specialized sense (ampullae of Lorenzini) to detect the electrical impulses of prey buried in the sand. Manta rays use the same sense to help them find plankton suspended in the water column,” McCombs explains.
3. Manta Rays Jump Out of the Water
According to McCombs, manta rays “launch themselves out of the water.” Scientists do not know for certain why they do this, but it may be related to communication, mating, or getting rid of parasites. Manta rays also visit cleaning stations where they float silently above a reef and allow smaller fish to remove parasites from their bodies.
4. Stingrays Are More Hostile
McCombs explains that stingrays use a stinger at the base of their tail to defend themselves, but manta rays do not have this venomous stinger. Instead, they rely on their large size and speed to escape from predators, although they have few natural enemies. When at the beach, McCombs advises shuffling your feet in the sand to avoid accidentally stepping on a stingray. It is also important to never touch wildlife as it may disrupt their natural behavior in the ocean. If stung by a stingray, seek medical assistance for pain relief and to check for any allergic reactions. If the barb is still in the puncture, do not remove it until receiving trained medical help. Warm or hot water can help alleviate the pain.
5. Both Rays Have Intelligence
Recent studies indicate that manta rays and stingrays are more intelligent than previously thought. McCombs notes that stingrays in aquariums are often trained to swim to specific targets or interact with enrichment devices. Meanwhile, studies of manta rays suggest they may have self-awareness. When swimming past a mirror, their behavior suggests they recognize themselves and not another manta ray.
A Pacific giant manta ray swims over divers to feel the bubbles from their SCUBA gear. This behavior is common in manta rays from the Socorros Islands off the Baja Peninsula.
6. Manta Rays Perform Elaborate Courtship Dances
While many stingrays, including manta rays, swim alone and only socialize during breeding and migration, manta rays perform intricate courtship dances when it’s time to mate. According to McCombs, a group of male manta rays will chase a female for hours until only one male remains. The male then uses its clasper to mate with the female, and she can store the sperm for several years, fertilizing the egg only when conditions are optimal.
7. Both Species Are Endangered
Stingrays are often fished for their fins and meat, and are frequently caught as bycatch during fishing for other species, as McCombs explains. Due to these unsustainable fishing practices, many stingray species are endangered, while others are not properly classified. Manta rays face the same fishing concerns as other stingrays, but are also susceptible to targeted fishing for their gill rakers. Additionally, their open-ocean habitat puts them at risk of entanglement in large nets. Both species are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Some endangered stingrays include the longhead eagle ray, the mottled eagle ray, and the longnose marbled whipray.
The honeycomb stingray, also known as the reticulate whipray (Himantura uarnak), inhabits coastal and brackish waters in the Indo-Pacific region. Manta rays, on the other hand, are known for their broad, cloak-like bodies and can grow up to 30 feet tall and 22 feet wide. They are also referred to as “hahalua” in Hawaiian, which means “two breaths.” Manta rays have a lifespan of around 40 years and are not dangerous to humans because their tail is not venomous. They do not have bones, but rather a skeleton made of cartilage, which classifies them as elasmobranchs. Unlike stingrays, manta rays have a mouth located on the front edge of their body and are not equipped with a venomous stinger.
FAQ
1. What are manta rays and stingrays?
Manta rays and stingrays are both flat, cartilaginous fish that belong to the same family, but they have distinct differences in appearance and behavior.
2. How can you tell the difference between manta rays and stingrays?
Manta rays are typically larger than stingrays, with wingspans that can reach up to 29 feet. They also have triangular-shaped pectoral fins that are much larger than their pelvic fins. Stingrays, on the other hand, have diamond-shaped bodies and a long, whip-like tail with one or more venomous spines.
3. Where do manta rays and stingrays live?
Manta rays can be found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world, while stingrays are found in coastal waters of all temperatures. Both species prefer sandy or muddy bottoms.
4. What do manta rays and stingrays eat?
Manta rays are filter feeders, consuming plankton and small fish using their wide, open mouths. Stingrays are bottom feeders, using their flattened bodies to scour the ocean floor for crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish.
5. Are manta rays and stingrays dangerous?
Manta rays are not considered dangerous to humans and are known to be curious and friendly towards divers. Stingrays can be dangerous if stepped on or provoked, as their venomous spines can cause painful injuries.
6. Why are manta rays and stingrays important to the ecosystem?
Manta rays and stingrays play an important role in the ocean ecosystem as both predators and prey. They help to maintain a healthy balance in the food chain and are a vital part of the marine environment.
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