Mobula Ray Pictures Reveal Spectacular Leaps

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 11-23-2007 | Paul Eccleston

[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.

[spetznaz]

Amazing!

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.

[Wage Slave]

Such beautiful creatures

[dbwz]

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

[Popman]

I wonder if they leap to gulp air. I used to fish for Tarpon and they do a similar thing.

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.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Fascinating. Going for a dip in the outside air?

[Cacique]

btt

[Bronzewound]

[stephenjohnbanker]

Ever eat sting ray?

Great eats!

[Squidpup]

wonderful pics - thanks! Reminds me of these manmade critters:

[xcamel]

a couple of things...
It’s the “Gulf of California” - between the Baja and the Mexican mainland.
They also jump to escape attacks by humbolt squid, and some sharks.

[Squidpup]

great minds eh?

[flyingbear]

Do they “hold their breath” while they’re out of the water?

[bvw]

Spakeing of analogicalia...

Dalek in a rowboat.

[Vince Ferrer]

Nice pictures. I followed the link because I had no idea what the title meant. :)

[FReepaholic]

[Don W]

Now THAT was funny!

[BallyBill]

[1FreeAmerican]

Journalist’s are sooooo stupid sometimes. Remind’s me of the time when the local newspapers- that’s statewide - and the television stations kept calling Tanzania "Tanzainia". Maroons.

[wizr]

Waay coool! Thanks. Those would make great videos, I bet.