Their feeding and courtship activities also occur in groups, which gave Perryman reason to suspect these animals are actually social butterflies.
Sharks and rays are often perceived as cold fish, but at least one species of manta ray has a surprisingly complex social life, a new study says.Ī majestic species that can reach widths of 18 feet, reef manta rays ( Mobula alfredi) are often seen gliding over tropical reefs in large numbers, notes study leader Rob Perryman, a researcher for the Marine Megafauna Foundation.
