The southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, specifically in the lady elliot island they find an exotic ‘Gothic’ stingray. It was discovered by the marine biologist Jacinta Shackleton.
In accordance with Asia Haines of the Manta Project, about 80 of the 1,400 individual mantas identified on Lady Elliot Island are melanistic. This means that 7.5% of the local population has this dark coloration.
What is melanism in animals about?
Melanism describes those living beings whose body tissues darken as a result of excess melanin. Generating this way jet black color variations of a large number of animals, including reptiles, birds, seals or even big cats.
The difference between a melanic and a non-melanic animal of the same species is due, in many cases, to the expression of the gene or to the intensity with which it is expressed. The mediator of this genetic transformation is found in the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and not in the DNA sequence.
About stingrays
This species is recognized in the oceans for its Large in size and majestic in shape, mantas belong to the Mobula genus and there are two recognized species: Manta birostris and Manta alfredi.
A manta ray can live more than 50 years; They are also cartilaginous fish, but they do not have a sting in their tail. They are pelagic, inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters of all the world’s major oceans.
One of the most amazing features of manta rays is that they have a large brain that can keep them warm even when swimming in colder than usual water.
Manta rays are very social creatures despite their enormous size, as they can have more than twice the size of the tallest human. A reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) grow to a maximum of 5 meters from tip to tip.
This species has characteristic cephalic fins located on both sides of the mouth. Their eyes are located on the sides of their broad head, they have long, triangular pectoral fins, and their width is approximately twice the length of their body. They are also filter feeders, they eat large amounts of plankton, so their mouth is in the cranial area, from the front.
Another peculiar characteristic of these animals is that they always swim offshore near the surface.
Are there other reasons for the unusual coloration in manta rays?
The explanation for why its black coloration is a mystery, but a 2019 study ruled out some reasons, for example, It has nothing to do with camouflage. because an investigation did not observe differences in the survival rates between the white mantas and those that presented jet coloration.
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What is melanism in animals about?
Melanism describes those living beings whose body tissues darken as a result of excess melanin. Generating this way jet black color variations of a large number of animals, including reptiles, birds, seals or even big cats.
The difference between a melanic and a non-melanic animal of the same species is due, in many cases, to the expression of the gene or to the intensity with which it is expressed. The mediator of this genetic transformation is found in the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and not in the DNA sequence.
Photo: Jacinta Shakleton.
About stingrays
This species is recognized in the oceans for its Large in size and majestic in shape, mantas belong to the Mobula genus and there are two recognized species: Manta birostris and Manta alfredi.
A manta ray can live more than 50 years; They are also cartilaginous fish, but they do not have a sting in their tail. They are pelagic, inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters of all the world’s major oceans.
One of the most amazing characteristics of manta rays is that they have a big brain which can keep warm even when swimming in colder water than usual.
Manta rays are very social creatures despite their enormous size, as they can have more than twice the size of the tallest human. A reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) grow to a maximum of 5 meters from tip to tip.
This species has characteristic cephalic fins located on both sides of the mouth. Their eyes are located on the sides of their broad head, they have long, triangular pectoral fins, and their width is approximately twice the length of their body.
They are also filter feeders, they eat large amounts of plankton, so their mouth is in the cranial area, from the front. Another peculiar characteristic of these animals is that they always swim offshore near the surface.
Are there other reasons for the unusual coloration in manta rays?
The explanation for why its black coloration is a mystery, but a 2019 study ruled out some reasons, for example, It has nothing to do with camouflage. because an investigation did not observe differences in the survival rates between the white mantas and those that presented jet coloration.
Photo: Twitter @RLIBlog