Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, pygmy devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, photographed on a long exposure, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacif...

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school from the air with one leaping out of the water, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school from the air, Baja California, Mexico.

Jordi Chias / Giant Manta (Manta birostris) going overhead, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Atlantic Ocean

Jordi Chias / Giant Manta (Manta birostris) with Remoras (Remora brachyptera) attached to both wings, offshore Santa Maria Island, Azores, Atlantic Ocean

Michael Pitts / Giant manta ray (Manta birostris) swimming over a cleaning station, Maldives, Indian Ocean.

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris) at cleaning station with Clarion Angelfish (Holacanthus clarionensis) San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (The Socorro Islands), Pacific...

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris), San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexico. Vulnerable species.

Franco Banfi / Manta ray (Manta birostris), San Benedicto, Revillagigedo (Socorro) Islands, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / Scuba diver and Manta ray (Manta birostris), San Benedicto, Revillagigedo (Socorro) Islands, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean. Model released.

Andy Rouse / Manta ray (Manta birostris) swimming on ocean floor Coral Bay, Australia

Nuno Sa / Manta Ray (Manta Birostris) and Devil Ray (Mobula tarapacana) in background, accompanied by Pilot Fish (Naucrates ductor) and Remora. Santa Maria Island, Azores, September.

Doug Perrine / Researcher Guy Stevens photographs belly spot identification pattern of Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi formerly Manta birostris) feeding on plankton, Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean, Oc...

Doug Perrine / Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi formerly Manta birostris) barrel roll filter feeding on plankton, Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean, October

Doug Perrine / Reef manta rays (Manta alfredi formerly Manta birostris) chain-feeding on plankton, Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean, October

Doug Perrine / Reef manta rays (Manta alfredi formerly Manta birostris) vortex / cyclone feeding on plankton, Hanifaru Bay, Hanifaru Lagoon, Baa Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean, October

Doug Perrine / Reef manta rays (Manta alfredi formerly Manta birostris) filter feeding on plankton among Silverside fish that are also feeding on the plankton, Hanifaru Bay, Hanifaru Lagoon, Baa Atoll, Maldives, Ind...

Juergen Freund / Manta rays (Manta birostris) at cleaning station being cleaned by wrasses, Moluccas Islands, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / A parade of giant manta rays (Manta birostris) at a cleaning station. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia,

Juergen Freund / Giant manta ray (Manta birostris) at a cleaning station, seen from behind. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Giant manta ray (Manta birostris) at a cleaning station. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Giant manta ray (Manta birostris) at a cleaning station with diver swimming behind it. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Giant manta rays (Manta birostris) at a cleaning station. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Giant manta ray (Manta birostris) at a cleaning station with diver looking up at it. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Alex Mustard / Large female Giant Pacific Manta Ray (Manta birostris) swimming below surf crashing into Roca Partida, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico. East Pacific Ocean. February

Alex Mustard / Group of Manta rays (Manta birostris) feeding together on plankton in a shallow lagoon. Hanifaru Lagoon, Baa Atoll, Maldives. Indian Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Large Manta ray (Manta birostris) feeding on plankton in very shallow water, viewed from the surface. Hanifaru Lagoon, Baa Atoll, Maldives. Indian Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Manta ray (Manta birostris) feeding on plankton in a shallow lagoon. Hanifaru Lagoon, Baa Atoll, Maldives. Indian Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Giant Pacific Manta Ray (Manta birostris) portrait with Remora fish (Echeneididae) Roca Partida, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico. East Pacific Ocean. February

Georgette Douwma / Manta ray {Manta birostris} feeding at surface, Sudan, Red Sea

Flip Nicklin / Manta Ray (Manta birostris) with two Remora (Remora remora) attached to it, Hallcion Reef, Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Flip Nicklin / Manta Ray (Manta birostris) Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico

Michael Pitts / Pacific manta ray {Manta alfredi} Yap, Micronesia

Michael Pitts / Pacific manta rays {Manta alfredi} Yap, Micronesia

Michael Pitts / Pacific manta ray feeding {Manta alfredi} Yap, Micronesia.

DOC WHITE / Underside view of Manta Ray {Manta birostris} Mexico,

Georgette Douwma / Manta rays filter feeding at sea surface, Red Sea off Sudan

Alex Mustard / Reef manta (Mobula alfredi) visiting a cleaning station on a coral reef with a school of Onespot snappers (Lutjanus monostigma), Oriental sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus) and Sabre squirrelfish (Sa...

Tui De Roy / Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) shoal filter feeding on plankton concentrated by monsoon currents in Raa Atoll, Vandhoo Thila, Maldives. October.

Alex Mustard / Reef manta (Mobula alfredi) female swimming close to a coral reef, while cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), tiny by comparison, pick parasites from her lips. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indone...

Alex Mustard / Portrait of a large female Reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) swimming over a coral reef. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Ceram Sea. Tropical West Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Pair of large reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) swim over a coral reef cleaning station. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Ceram Sea. Tropical West Pacific Ocean.

Ralph Pace / Manta Ray (Manta birostris), Baja California, Mexico

Tim Fitzharris / Reef Manta Ray (Manta alfredi) pair, Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school, with some leaping into the air. Aerial view. Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school from the air with one leaping out of the water, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school from the air, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school next to boat aerial view. Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school next to boat aerial view. Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school from the air, Baja California, Mexico

David Fleetham / Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) with black colour variation cruising over coral drop off. Fiji.

Alex Mustard / Manta ray (Mobula birostris) approaching a reef to be cleaned. Cousins Rock, San Salvador Island, Santiago Island, Galapagos National Park, Galapagos Islands. East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Oceanic manta (Mobula birostris). Cousins Rock, San Salvador Island, Santiago Island, Galapagos National Park, Galapagos Islands. East Pacific Ocean.

David Fleetham / Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) swimming over shallows with diver in background. West Maui, Hawaii. September 2010. Model released.

Stephane Granzotto / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and Manta ray (Manta birostris) during a sardine run, Yucatan, Mexico.

David Fleetham / View from the water of the Manta Ray Bay Resort and The Mnuw Floating Restuarant on the island of Yap, Micronesia. September 2007.

David Fleetham / Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) over hard coral off West Maui, Hawaii.

David Fleetham / Manta ray (Manta alfredi) with cleaner wrasse, Manta Reef, Kandavu, Fiji.

David Fleetham / Manta ray (Manta alfredi) with cleaner wrasse, Manta Reef, Kandavu, Fiji.

David Fleetham / Manta ray (Manta birostris) gliding over a cleaning station in M'il Channel, Yap, Micronesia.

David Fleetham / Hard and soft coral, schooling anthias and manta rays all come together in this Indonesian reef scene. Several images were digitally combined for this panorama.

David Fleetham / Manta Ray (Manta alfredi) with one cephalic fin curled and the other extended. M'il Channel, Yap, Micronesia.

David Fleetham / Reef Manta Ray (Manta alfredi) cruising overhead with diver in background. Ukumehame, Maui, Hawaii.

David Fleetham / Pacific manta ray (Manta alfredi) cruising through shallows of Ukumehame, Maui, Hawaii.

David Fleetham / Manta ray (Manta birostris) entangled in and towing a fishing net. Yap, Micronesia.

David Fleetham / Manta ray (Manta birostris) at cleaning station in M'il Channel, Yap, Micronesia.

David Fleetham / Two Manta rays (Manta birostris) feeding in Mi'l channel off the island of Yap, Micronesia.

David Fleetham / Manta ray (Manta birostris) breaking the surface with its mouth open, feeding in Mi'l channel off the island of Yap, Micronesia.

David Fleetham / Split-level image of swimming pool and ship / restaurant named The S/V Mnuw (Sea Hawk) at the Manta Ray Bay Hotel on the island of Yap, Micronesia. September 2007.

David Fleetham / Sunrise viewed from the Manta Ray Bay Hotel on the island of Yap, Micronesia. September 2007. ^^^ The vessel in the foreground serves as the hotel's restaurant. It is a South Seas Schooner from Indone...

Alex Mustard / Reef manta (Mobula alfredi) at a cleaning station with Cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus). South Ari Atoll, Maldives. Indian Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Reef manta (Mobula alfredi) swimming with Remoras (Remora remora). South Ari Atoll, Maldives. Indian Ocean.

Jordi Chias / Giant manta (Manta birtostris) Ari Atoll, Maldives islands, Indian Ocean

Jordi Chias / Giant manta (Manta birtostris) swimming over the reef, Ari Atoll, Maldives Islands. Indian Ocean

Jordi Chias / Giant manta (Manta birtostris) swimming over a cleaning station, Malet Atoll, Maldives islands.

Franco Banfi / Manta ray (Manta birostris) Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sulu Sea, Cagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / Scuba diver and school of Munk's devil ray, pygmy devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, photographed on a long exposure, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris), with Remoras (Echeneididae) Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Giant manta ray (Manta birostris), Roca Partida Islet, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexico, March. Vulnerable,

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris), IUCN Vulnerable, Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris), IUCN Vulnerable, Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris) and Black Jack (Caranx lugubris), Giant Manta Ray IUCN Vulnerable, San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean,...

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris) and Black Jack (Caranx lugubris), Giant Manta Ray IUCN Vulnerable, San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean,...

Claudio Contreras / Black Jack (Caranx lugubris) near Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris), tail, IUCN Vulnerable, Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexic...

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris), IUCN Vulnerable, Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris) and diver, San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve / Archipielago de Revillagigedo UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site (Socorro Islands), Pac...