Fins funnel food: manta ray

1 of 1 Manta Ray / Richard Harv.. / License

The mouth of manta rays filter feeds more efficiently because food is funneled via extendable, flaplike fins on either side of the mouth.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The manta is the largest living ray, up to 6.7 metres across and 1360 kg in weight. Surprisingly, it feeds on small crustaceans and plankton, trapped on its gill rakers. Unlike most rays, its mouth extends across the front of its body, and the large mobile pale-coloured cephalic fins on either side of the mouth can be extended vertically. It has been suggested that these may form a scoop or funnel leading to the mouth while feeding." (Foy and Oxford Scientific Films 1982:188)

About the inspiring organism

Atlantic manta
Manta birostris (Walbaum, 1792)
[Australian devilray, Blanketfish, Devil ray, Devilfish, Devil-ray, Eagleray, Giant devil ray, Giant Atlantic manta, Giant manta, Great devil fish, Manta, Manta ray, Mantaray, Pacific manta, Prince Alfreds ray, Sea devil, Skeete]

IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened
Habitat(s): Marine Coastal/Supratidal, Marine Neritic, Marine Oceanic

Some organism data provided by: FishBase
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: New tools for sustainable fishing, funneling applications for wastewater treatment or wet manufacturing processes.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Fishing, manufacturing, wastewater management

References

Foy, Sally; Oxford Scientific Films. 1982. The Grand Design: Form and Colour in Animals. Lingfield, Surrey, U.K.: BLA Publishing Limited for J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd, Aldine House, London. 238 p.

Fins funnel food: manta ray

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