Manta Ray Feeding

What do Manta Rays Eat?

If you observe the feeding habits of the Manta Ray you will quickly see that they are filter eaters. This process allows them to take in everything in the water and then it is filtered. The water is passed back out through their gills. The food that they will consume remains in the body. There are plates along the gills that trap the food inside of the mouth so that only the water passes back out.

The primary food source for the Manta Ray is plankton which are various organisms in the water. They include bacteria, plants, and small animals. They also consume angelfish if they are found in the natural habitat of the Manta Ray.  Shrimp and a variety of small fish help to complete the diet for them. They aren’t picky and will consume such items that they come into contact with.

Many hours each day are dedicated to the feeding process. A full grown adult can consume up to 60 pounds of food every single day. The Manta Ray moves along the water extremely slowly. This allows them to take in a great deal of water and food that is filtered properly. The water goes back out through the slits in the sides of their heads called gills. The food is then pushed down into the stomach.

You will notice that there are cephalic lobes on the sides of the head. They help direct food into the mouth. The mouth is located on the top of the head instead of the bottom. It is believed that the Manta Ray remembers the best feeding spots and so they will return to them on a regular basis.

They have very distinct movements during feeding. They tend to move forward in a straight line. This seems weird to observers, especially if there is food supplies to the right or left of them. However, this slow but meticulous pattern works well for them and allows them to get the daily fill of food that their bodies require.

Generally the Manta Ray will feed at night when they have the best chance of finding enough food. However, they have been seen feeding during the day in some areas. They are very intelligent animals so they are able to adapt their feeding habits to what is readily available. Some may be hunting day and night and this is as common indicator that they are struggling to find enough food to survive on.

You will often find the Manta Ray feeding around the coral reefs though. These areas tend to offer them a great deal of the foods that they love. Large amounts of food can be filtered through their bodies in a short period of time. Therefore they are going to go to the locations where they find the most food.

Research also shows that they seem to be able to remember the best feeding grounds around them too. They will return to them again and again. By the same token though they are highly adaptable. When they find that those rich resources have run low they will do all they can to find other locations that benefit them just as well.

The unique feeding habit of the Manta Ray allow these animals to continue to evolve and to survive despite changes to their natural environment. One of the conservation efforts in place is to make sure they have enough food to survive on. They generally do well but with humans polluting both the air and the water it can be difficult at times for them to find adequate food supplies.