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) 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 / 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 / A parade of giant manta rays (Manta birostris) at a cleaning station. 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 / 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.

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

Tui De Roy / Manta Ray (Manta birostris) filter feeding, Hanifaru, Baa Atoll, Maldives

Tui De Roy / Manta Ray (Manta birostris) filter feeding, Hanifaru, Baa Atoll, Maldives

Tui De Roy / Manta Ray (Manta birostris) group filter feeding, Raa Atoll, Maldives

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

Alex Mustard / Black manta ray (Manta birostris) female hovering above a cleaning station on a coral reef. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Dampier Strait. Tropical West Pacific Ocean.

Brandon Cole / Manta Ray (Manta birostris) with two big remoras (Remora sp.) attached to the underside of the manta. Baja, Mexico, Pacific Ocean.

Brandon Cole / Manta ray (Manta birostris) with Remora attached underneath. Baja, Mexico, Pacific Ocean.