Reef Manta Ray (species: Mobula alfredi) in Lizard Island Field Guide (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island Field Guide > Marine Life > Sharks and Rays > Mobula alfredi (gallery)
Mobula alfredi
Reef Manta Ray


©Lyle Vail: The same individual of Mobula alfredi at Snake Pit near Lizard Island.

©Lyle Vail: Mobula alfredi at Snake Pit near Lizard Island. Disc width estimated at about 3.5 metres.

©Anne Hoggett: Underside of same individual of Mobula alfredi at Snake Pit near Lizard Island.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Elasmobranchii
Order Myliobatiformes
Family Myliobatidae
Genus Mobula
Species Mobula alfredi

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Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

         

Distinguishing features

Dark patches between the paired rows of gill slits and the mouth is white (Marshall et al, 2009).

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Comments

Only one species of manta ray, Manta birostris, was recognised until 2009 when Marshall et al resurrected Manta alfredi from its synonymy. Both species are now in genus Mobula rather than Manta.

by Anne Hoggett

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island: Mantas are usually seen around Lizard island between about October and April. Snake Pit seems to be a cleaning station for them.

Web resources

References

  • Marshall, A.D., L.J.V. Compagno and M.B. Bennett (2009). Redescription of the genus Manta with resurrection of Manta alfredi (Krefft, 1868) (Chondrichthyes; Myliobatoidei; Mobulidae), Zootaxa, 2301: 1-28. LIRS catalog number 90166.