Tens of thousands of mobula rays come together off the coast of Baja California in a brilliant display of their massive numbers underwater. Then watch them breach for reasons unknown. The leaps out of the water are spectacular as their pectoral fins flap in the air.
Though it’s hard to tell in this clip, these animals are quite large, likely weighing over a ton and reaching “a disc width of up to 5.2 m (17 ft)…” This is also likely the largest school of rays ever to be caught on film, captured for National Geographic’s Untamed Americas.
Surprisingly, we know very little about these large “flying” creatures. They feed on plankton and small fish, give birth to a single pup, and are listed as endangered, but we’ve yet to learn the details of their population, birth cycles, or what keeps them healthy. In many ways, they remain mysterious.
In the archives, two more incredible ray videos: California Devil Rays leap from the Pacific and Dr. Andrea Marshall gets up close with the giant manta rays of Mozambique.
Thanks, @HeathenReason.
This Webby award-winning video collection exists to help teachers, librarians, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity. TKSST features smarter, more meaningful content than what's usually served up by YouTube's algorithms, and amplifies the creators who make that content.
Curated, kid-friendly, independently-published. Support this mission by becoming a sustaining member today.