here is one of the mantas from our recent project. we managed to photo ID 102 individuals this year, which was incredible as we originaly thought back in 05 that there were only around 20 animals. slightly more encouraged in 07 when we ID'd 30 but blown away by this number. and we know there are more.
the mantas will use a cleaning rock inhabited by barber and king angel fish. casual observation might suggest that this is conincidental, but our extended time in the water with these mantas (over 7 weeks) revealed that on occasions the mantas will queue up at the rock and wait their turn, the lead manta will have his clean, taking several minutes hovering in the current, and we have observed up to four mantas waiting patiently behind the first one being cleaned, all hovering motionless in the current.
Posted by Edwin kats on October 18, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Amazing animals. Good news you did see so many. So it's not all bad news about nature today.
Well done.
Edwin Kats
Posted by David Taylor on October 18, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Glad to read it's not all 'doom & gloom' , at least for this species. Excellent behavioural image. Keep up the good work.
Posted by Mark Davies on October 18, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Discussion
3 replieshere is one of the mantas from our recent project. we managed to photo ID 102 individuals this year, which was incredible as we originaly thought back in 05 that there were only around 20 animals. slightly more encouraged in 07 when we ID'd 30 but blown away by this number. and we know there are more.
the mantas will use a cleaning rock inhabited by barber and king angel fish. casual observation might suggest that this is conincidental, but our extended time in the water with these mantas (over 7 weeks) revealed that on occasions the mantas will queue up at the rock and wait their turn, the lead manta will have his clean, taking several minutes hovering in the current, and we have observed up to four mantas waiting patiently behind the first one being cleaned, all hovering motionless in the current.
Well done.
Edwin Kats