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Mobula Ray Pictures Reveal Spectacular Leaps
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 11-23-2007 | Paul Eccleston

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: leaps; mobula; pictures; ray
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1 posted on 11/23/2007 10:58:04 AM PST by blam
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To: blam
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.

2 posted on 11/23/2007 11:05:52 AM PST by spetznaz (Nuclear-tipped Ballistic Missiles: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol)
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To: blam

Such beautiful creatures


3 posted on 11/23/2007 11:09:13 AM PST by Wage Slave (Good fences make good neighbors. -- Robert Frost)
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To: blam

Very cool. Thanks for posting.


4 posted on 11/23/2007 11:10:01 AM PST by dbwz (kthxbai)
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To: blam
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.

5 posted on 11/23/2007 11:12:52 AM PST by Popman (My doohickey is discombobulated)
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To: blam

Fascinating. Going for a dip in the outside air?


6 posted on 11/23/2007 11:15:58 AM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Elections have consequences.)
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To: blam

btt


7 posted on 11/23/2007 11:16:20 AM PST by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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To: blam
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
8 posted on 11/23/2007 11:17:42 AM PST by Bronzewound
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To: blam

Ever eat sting ray?

Great eats!


9 posted on 11/23/2007 11:20:19 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: blam
wonderful pics - thanks! Reminds me of these manmade critters:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
10 posted on 11/23/2007 11:21:22 AM PST by Squidpup ("Fight the Good Fight")
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To: blam
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.
11 posted on 11/23/2007 11:21:55 AM PST by xcamel (FDT/2008)
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To: Bronzewound

great minds eh?


12 posted on 11/23/2007 11:22:28 AM PST by Squidpup ("Fight the Good Fight")
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To: blam

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


13 posted on 11/23/2007 11:28:05 AM PST by flyingbear (long time lurker livin' on the left coast)
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To: Squidpup
Spakeing of analogicalia...

Dalek in a rowboat.

14 posted on 11/23/2007 11:28:52 AM PST by bvw
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To: blam

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


15 posted on 11/23/2007 11:40:34 AM PST by Vince Ferrer
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To: blam

16 posted on 11/23/2007 11:41:43 AM PST by FReepaholic (This tagline could indicate global warming.)
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To: bvw

Now THAT was funny!


17 posted on 11/23/2007 11:44:07 AM PST by Don W (I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.)
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To: blam

18 posted on 11/23/2007 11:54:31 AM PST by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
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To: xcamel
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.
19 posted on 11/23/2007 11:54:40 AM PST by 1FreeAmerican
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To: blam

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


20 posted on 11/23/2007 12:11:16 PM PST by wizr ("Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, Hope Rides Alone." Sgt. E Jeffer)
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