Oceanic Manta Ray

Photo: aie_ling · CC BY-NC

Oceanic manta rays appear alongside whale sharks at the corridor's plankton aggregations from January to March, making slow barrel rolls through the densest zooplankton patches to maximise filter-feeding efficiency. Their wingspan can exceed 5 m and their cephalic fins — which funnel water into the gill plates — are fully unfurled during active feeding passes, creating a spectacular sight. These are wide-ranging pelagic animals; the Kalpitiya sightings likely represent individuals traveling a broader Indian Ocean circuit that includes Maldivian and Mozambican feeding grounds.