![]() ![]() Until recently, the genus Manta was considered mono-specific, but was redescribed in 2009 as comprising the reef manta ray, Manta alfredi (Krefft 1868) and the giant manta ray M. ![]() Manta ray-based ecotourism potential can be important for coastal communities, particularly in developing countries, where it can generate great economic benefits. Due to their tendency to aggregate predictably in relatively shallow waters around islands and along coastlines, they have become an attraction for recreational divers in many countries. As fully-grown adults, they are among the largest ray species. Manta rays comprise two species that occur in tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate waters around the world. As a first copulation was observed with 5 years 4 months of age and the presence of sperm were confirmed at the age of 5 years 11 months of age, the studied animal reached its full sexual maturity at the latest at the age of around 5 years. alfredi individual shows signs of sexual maturation (size of disc width, testosterone levels, reproductive behavior) already with the age of 2.5 to 3 years. Taken together, these results indicate that the captive male M. Seven months after copulation, we performed a biopsy to collect its semen, including any motile sperm. Its first copulation event was observed at 5 years and 4 months and appeared behaviorally similar to field observations. Then, at around 3 years of age, the male started to chase a female in the tank and exhibited androgen levels similar to that of another matured male, indicating that the study specimen had begun sexual maturation endocrinologically. ResultsĪt 2 years and 6 months of age, the male exceeded 300 cm in disc width. alfredi during its sexual maturation process. We investigated changes in external morphology, behavior, and levels of steroid hormones in a male M. ![]() In this study, we report the first case of a male reef manta ray, Mobula alfredi, becoming sexually mature in captivity and present its reproductive characteristics. ![]()
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