Posted on 11/23/2007 10:58:01 AM PST by blam
Mobula Ray pictures reveal spectacular leaps
By Paul Eccleston
Last Updated: 5:01pm GMT 23/11/2007
It looks like a futuristic space ship skimming over the ocean's surface. Or maybe a triangular shaped prototype aircraft launched from the depths.
In fact it is a Mobula Ray, a smaller cousin of the Manta Ray, which puts on a spectacular leaping display.
The pictures were taken in the Sea of Cortez at the southern end of the Gulf of Mexico.
Found in tropical oceans around the world the mobulas off Mexico are renowned for their acrobatics.
They hurtle up from the depths and leap several feet into the air often turning somersaults in the process.
Nobody knows why they do it but theories include it being part of a courtship display, ridding themselves of parasites, chasing prey or simply having fun.
At these times the rays, which can span 12-feet from wing tip to wing tip, congregate in huge schools numbering several hundreds which observers say carpet the ocean floor. And then just as suddenly they disappear.
Both mobula and manta ray numbers have been hit by industrial fishing where they are accidentally caught in nets. Tuna purse-seine nets, drift nets and long lines all account for rays which die quickly when caught because they need to keep swimming to breathe.
As a kid i used to be fearful of Manta Rays (would cringe whenever i saw a documentary), but after reading some books by Willard Price (I believe Diving Adventure, Underwater adventure or such) I grew to see them more like underwater angels rather than 'devil fish' (their other name). Amazing creatures.
Such beautiful creatures
Very cool. Thanks for posting.
By the thousands at some time they would surface and roll up to gulp air as they break the surface of the water.
They have a silvery scale and when they do it schools, the reflection off the sun was quite breathtaking when they rolled up and over the surface of the water.
Fascinating. Going for a dip in the outside air?
btt
Ever eat sting ray?
Great eats!
great minds eh?
Do they “hold their breath” while they’re out of the water?
Dalek in a rowboat.
Nice pictures. I followed the link because I had no idea what the title meant. :)
Now THAT was funny!
Waay coool! Thanks. Those would make great videos, I bet.
ARRRRRGH!
Delete this thread immediately.
These photos obviously support the Darwinian theory of evolution. This is evidence of that missing transitional link between fish and birds.
My only experience with the ray family has been with skates. Skates will lie on the sea floor, and flap their wings to get sand to cover the wing edge for disguise.
Scuba diving, I was going after a lobster, and kneeled on one. Scared the heck out of me, even though it probably only had a 2ft or so span.
Regarding the Humboldt squid:
I've been told the vibration from our props (46" diameter X 4 Detroit Diesel 16V92's at about 1100 hp per shaft) sets them off and that does seem to be the case.
It's kinda' neat because when they come back down from their leap and do their huge "belly floppers" it sounds like a shotgun discharge. They're not coordinated like dolphins, but once one ray has jumped, it seems to get the rest of them started.
Some new Cousteau should invent a “SCOOTWBA” for them.
The locals call it “Sea of Cortés.” My map calls it “Gulf of California.” I was confused, too, until I realized it was two names for the same geographic feature.
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