Reef Manta Ray

Photo: lichenguy · CC BY-NC

Reef manta rays at this site are resident individuals that return to the cleaning station on most days, with the largest aggregations coinciding with plankton blooms driven by tidal upwellings around the Great Astrolabe Reef. Individual rays are identified by their unique spot patterns on the ventral surface and researchers have documented the same individuals returning across multiple years. Gestation lasts around 12-13 months and pups have been recorded in Fijian waters, suggesting the site is part of a broader mating and nursery corridor.