How large do reef manta rays get?

Typical disc width is 3 to 3.5 m (9.8 to 11.5 ft), with a maximum around 5.5 m (18 ft).

How do reef manta rays differ from giant oceanic manta rays?

Reef manta rays tend to inhabit shallower, more coastal habitats, whereas giant oceanic manta rays are more oceanic; the two species can appear similar and their ranges may overlap.

When was the reef manta ray first described?

The species was described in 1868 by Gerard Krefft and originally placed in the genus Manta.

Has the reef manta ray's scientific name changed?

Yes; it was originally described as Manta alfredi and in 2017 was reclassified into the genus Mobula.

Could I confuse this species with another?

Yes. Mobula birostris is similar in appearance and may be confused with Mobula alfredi where their distributions overlap.

Are reef manta rays found in the West Atlantic or East Pacific?

No records are reported from the West Atlantic or East Pacific in the source material.

Who was the species named after?

The species name honors Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the first British royal to visit Australia.

Where to See Reef Manta Ray While Diving

Q: Where are reef manta rays found?

They are widely found in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, with a few records from the tropical East Atlantic.

The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is a species in the family Mobulidae and is among the largest rays in the world. It is generally 3 to 3.5 m (9.8 to 11.5 ft) in disc width, with a maximum recorded size of about 5.5 m (18 ft). The species was first described in 1868 by Gerard Krefft and was named in honor of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. Historically placed in the genus Manta, the species (along with other mantas) was reassigned to the genus Mobula in 2017. The reef manta ray is widely distributed through the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, with a few records from the tropical East Atlantic; there are no records from the West Atlantic or East Pacific. Compared with the giant oceanic manta ray, the reef manta ray tends to occur in shallower, more coastal habitats, and local migrations have been reported. Mobula birostris (the giant oceanic manta ray) is similar in appearance and their distributions can overlap, so the two species may be confused.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Ari Atoll, Addu Atoll (Seenu Atoll), Komodo and countries such as Maldives, Indonesia, French Polynesia for divers building trips around reef manta rays.