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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Doc White / Manta ray (Manta hamiltoni) accompanied by two symbiotic Remora, Eastern Pacific

Brandon Cole / Manta Ray (Manta birostris) and scuba diver. Baja, Mexico, eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

Brandon Cole / Giant manta ray feeding on plankton at night {Manta birostris} Hawaii

Brandon Cole / Giant manta rays feeding on plankton at night {Manta birostris} Hawaii Pacific

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

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

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

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

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) underwater portrait, Baja California, Mexico

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.

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

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

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...