Form 2015:
When photos of this giant oceanic manta ray surfaced last week, there was some initial speculation that they might be fake. But we're sad to report that scientists at Manta Trust and the Marine Megafauna Foundation have confirmed the images are real. The manta (Manta birostris), which tipped the scales at an astounding 1,000 kilos (2,200 lbs), was accidentally caught by fishermen off the coast of Caleta la Cruz. Despite rumour that the ray measured 11 metres (36ft) across, it's more likely that it was 5 to 7 metres (the largest documented was about 7m).