: They are frequently caught in non-selective fishing gear like drift gillnets.
: They often display lighter coloration around the mouth and eyes compared to the much darker faces of the giant oceanic manta. Range and Habitat atlantic manta
: Their gill plates are highly valued in some international markets for traditional medicinal tonics, despite no scientific evidence of health benefits. : They are frequently caught in non-selective fishing
: They possess the largest brain-to-body weight ratio of any living fish, contributing to their reputation for curiosity and social interaction with divers. atlantic manta
: Their dark spots are clustered primarily around the lower abdomen and do not extend between the gills—a trait more common in reef mantas.