I didn’t know this type of critter did this? Cool looking shots none the less.
“Flap, flap, flap, maybe a somersault or two, and then smack! It happened again and again. Single flips. Straight-up belly flops. Double flips.” http://www.malbertphoto.com/mobulas1.html
Wow!
I’m not entirely surprised that a manta ray COULD do this… but I’m quite surprised that one WOULD…
Kinda reminds me of Dolphins playing around… but they’re considered quite intelligent, and so it’s not surprising to hear of them “playing” … Didn’t know a ray would have it in 'em mentally…
I wonder if just before they go up, they holler the manta-ray equivalent of “Hey y’all, watch this!”
I wonder if, just before they go up, they holler the manta-ray equivalent of “Hey y’all, watch this!”
They’ve survived for millions of years because the phrase “Hey y’all, watch this!” is never followed (or preceded) by “Hold my beer.”
.
we called it the manta ray Olympics.
A few years ago while cruising in Mexico we watched as literally hundreds of manta rays passed our boat one evening jumping and twirling. The sound of them returning to the water SMACK was so frequent I could count the sounds just by counting 1,2,3 at normal speed. Went on for several minutes.
I have a few pictures of the “Olympics” here: