![]() Making that brain function well is a system of blood vessels that envelope the manta’s braincase, keeping the brain warmer than the surrounding tissue. With the largest brain-to-body ratio of all elasmobranchs*, the manta ray is one of the most intelligent fish in the sea. Their feeding and diving behavior creates a valuable ecological connection between the surface ocean and the deep sea.But there is one fish that no less an authority on charisma than businessman Richard Branson calls “one of the most charismatic creatures in the ocean”, and that is the elegant, enormous, manta ray. Manta rays control plankton abundance and diversity and regulate nutrient cycling. They are capable of learning, remembering, and even recognizing themselves in the mirror. Giant manta rays have the biggest brains of any fish. The model also allows for more effective timing and coordination of conservation efforts, like outreach to reduce recreational fisheries bycatch and vessel collisions. This helps managers assess the likelihood and potential exposure and harm caused by human activities (i.e., oil and gas exploration, construction activities, dredging, etc.). Model predictions provide managers with a better understanding of what causes manta rays to move and how they use their habitat. The team’s findings will allow resource managers to more effectively protect manta rays from threats including: Helping Managers Protect Manta Rays-and the Ecosystem ![]()
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