Meet Blob, Zulu, Penny and Thunder
Sept 20, 2015 16:19:15 GMT
Post by lugg on Sept 20, 2015 16:19:15 GMT
And several other manta that are not identifiable from my photos. Hanifaru Bay is a marine biosphere in the Baa Atoll of the Maldives , known for its rich source of plankton at certain times of the year, attracting one of my favourite marine animals – the manta ray. I was lucky enough to be able to go this August and it was everything I hoped for – approx. 50 manta in the bay when I was there.
So how do I know their names/ sex/ approx. age ? each manta has a totally unique pattern of spots on their underneath side – like a fingerprint even twin manta will have a different pattern. I was able to identify 4 of the mantas with help from the Manta Trust, who do sterling work with a data base of approx. 3,800 manta which is really helping to understand more about manta across the world. All of these photos are reef manta which are smaller than the oceanic manta but still they are pretty huge growing to an average wing span of 3-3.5 metres (9-11.5ft) and a possible maximum of 4.5 metres (15ft), reaching weights of up to 1.4 tonnes (3,100 lbs). Swimming in the middle of them, as they barrel roll to feed or swim in chains is pretty breath taking.
So Blob is a juvenile female first identified in July 2007 at Hanifaru Bay. She has been sighted a total of 68 times, with all sightings recorded within Baa Atoll, and she was last seen over a year ago, on the 24th of August 2014, feeding at Reethi Beach, Baa Atoll.
Zulu –is an adult male manta was first identified in July 2008 at Dhigu Thila, Baa Atoll. He has been sighted a total of 36 times, all of which have been recorded within Baa Atoll, and was last seen in November 2014. Zulu is noted to have a shark bite scar on his right pectoral, halfway along fin.
Thunder -This adult female manta was first identified in May 2007. She has been sighted a total of 80 times with the majority of her sightings recorded within Baa Atoll. Thunder was noted to be pregnant in June 2014 (Mid-late term pregnancy) and she was last seen in November 2014.
This adult female manta was first identified in May 2007. She has been sighted a total of 80 times with the majority of her sightings recorded within Baa Atoll. Thunder was noted to be pregnant in June 2014 (Mid-late term pregnancy) and she was last seen in November 2014.
And finally Penny ..an adult female manta first identified in June 2008 at Baa Atoll. She has been sighted a total of 38 times and is quite the traveller, having spent some time in Fasdhu, Baa and Ari Atolls. Penny was noted to be pregnant in in May 2014 (Mid- late term pregnancy).
Manta feed on plankton using different techniques to filter huge quantities through their mouths
From the Manta Trust --At one location in the world, when conditions are perfect and the plankton levels become extremely dense, the chain feeding mantas loop around to form a spiralling column of as many as 150 individuals. These ‘cyclone feeding’ events are spectacular and only occur about a dozen times each year at Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives. The column of mantas literally acts like a cyclone, spinning around and around in tight formation the mantas create their own current as a vortex forms in the eye of the cyclone and the filtered water moves up towards the surface. Plankton positioned on the outside of the cyclone get pulled inexorably closer as the mantas rush past in their feeding frenzy, forming the wall of the cyclone with the sheer mass of their spiralling bodies they literally suck the planktonic feast towards their gaping mouths
A few more photos of somewhat better quality, but lots of plankton whilst great for the manta makes it difficult to get good images unfortunately.
So how do I know their names/ sex/ approx. age ? each manta has a totally unique pattern of spots on their underneath side – like a fingerprint even twin manta will have a different pattern. I was able to identify 4 of the mantas with help from the Manta Trust, who do sterling work with a data base of approx. 3,800 manta which is really helping to understand more about manta across the world. All of these photos are reef manta which are smaller than the oceanic manta but still they are pretty huge growing to an average wing span of 3-3.5 metres (9-11.5ft) and a possible maximum of 4.5 metres (15ft), reaching weights of up to 1.4 tonnes (3,100 lbs). Swimming in the middle of them, as they barrel roll to feed or swim in chains is pretty breath taking.
So Blob is a juvenile female first identified in July 2007 at Hanifaru Bay. She has been sighted a total of 68 times, with all sightings recorded within Baa Atoll, and she was last seen over a year ago, on the 24th of August 2014, feeding at Reethi Beach, Baa Atoll.
Zulu –is an adult male manta was first identified in July 2008 at Dhigu Thila, Baa Atoll. He has been sighted a total of 36 times, all of which have been recorded within Baa Atoll, and was last seen in November 2014. Zulu is noted to have a shark bite scar on his right pectoral, halfway along fin.
Thunder -This adult female manta was first identified in May 2007. She has been sighted a total of 80 times with the majority of her sightings recorded within Baa Atoll. Thunder was noted to be pregnant in June 2014 (Mid-late term pregnancy) and she was last seen in November 2014.
This adult female manta was first identified in May 2007. She has been sighted a total of 80 times with the majority of her sightings recorded within Baa Atoll. Thunder was noted to be pregnant in June 2014 (Mid-late term pregnancy) and she was last seen in November 2014.
And finally Penny ..an adult female manta first identified in June 2008 at Baa Atoll. She has been sighted a total of 38 times and is quite the traveller, having spent some time in Fasdhu, Baa and Ari Atolls. Penny was noted to be pregnant in in May 2014 (Mid- late term pregnancy).
Manta feed on plankton using different techniques to filter huge quantities through their mouths
From the Manta Trust --At one location in the world, when conditions are perfect and the plankton levels become extremely dense, the chain feeding mantas loop around to form a spiralling column of as many as 150 individuals. These ‘cyclone feeding’ events are spectacular and only occur about a dozen times each year at Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives. The column of mantas literally acts like a cyclone, spinning around and around in tight formation the mantas create their own current as a vortex forms in the eye of the cyclone and the filtered water moves up towards the surface. Plankton positioned on the outside of the cyclone get pulled inexorably closer as the mantas rush past in their feeding frenzy, forming the wall of the cyclone with the sheer mass of their spiralling bodies they literally suck the planktonic feast towards their gaping mouths
A few more photos of somewhat better quality, but lots of plankton whilst great for the manta makes it difficult to get good images unfortunately.
.
