Young Caribbean manta rays (Mobula yarae) in coastal South Florida often carry groups of other fish, forming small, moving communities. Palm Beach County is a known nursery for these juvenile mantas, where they are frequently observed near the surface.
Researchers from the Marine Megafauna Foundation and the University of Miami analysed 465 videos recorded between 2016 and 2021. Emily Yeager, the study’s lead author and a doctoral candidate at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, said the team recorded which fish were present, how many there were, and where they gathered on the manta bodies.
The study identified four families of teleost fish that regularly associate with juvenile mantas. The most frequent companions were remoras, which attach with a suction-like dorsal fin; other common species included jacks and cobia. Fish often gathered near gills, eyes, wings and the tail.
Researchers suggest these associations can be stable and that mantas may act as living habitats where other fish can feed, mature or mate. Because South Florida is busy with boating and recreational fishing, scientists advise slower speeds and careful fishing to reduce boat strikes and entanglement.
Difficult words
- juvenile — young animal not yet adultjuvenile mantas
- nursery — place where young animals live and grow
- remora — a fish that attaches to larger animalsremoras
- associate — to be together or connected with
- teleost — a large group of bony fish speciesteleost fish
- entanglement — being caught or trapped in rope or gear
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Discussion questions
- How could slower boat speeds help young manta rays and the fish that live with them?
- Have you ever seen animals form small groups like the manta communities described? Describe what you saw.
- What local actions could people take to protect marine nurseries near their coast?
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