Devil Ray

The devil ray is a large, diamond-shaped relative of the manta, dark above and white below, with a pair of forward-pointing cephalic fins that it uses to funnel plankton into its mouth. Smaller and slimmer-tailed than a true manta, it moves through open coastal and offshore water with slow, powerful flaps of its wings, sometimes leaping clear of the surface.

Devil rays are harmless filter feeders that gather where currents concentrate plankton and small fish, and they are an unforgettable sight for divers when they glide past. They are slow-breeding and vulnerable to fishing pressure, so any incidental catch should be released with care and never targeted. Give free-swimming individuals space and avoid touching or crowding them.