Wild Science

Here I am snorkeling with giant manta rays in Hanifaru Bay, a protected UNESCO Biosphere in Ba’a Atoll, Maldives. Every monsoon season, hundreds to thousands will congregate there to feed on plankton driven there by the currents.

Did you know that mantas are the most intelligent fish in the world and have the largest brain to body mass ratio? Each manta has distinctive black and white markings, much like a fingerprint or snowflake. Reacting to different environmental stimulants, they can change color quickly.

I remember vividly putting on my flippers and snorkel gear, waiting for the tour guides to let us jump into the dark blue water. The waves tossed the boat to and fro, and the crisp ocean breeze blew gently across my face. I leaned over the edge and saw many black fins poking out of the water. Finally, the guides gave us the signal to jump in–I splashed into the mysterious world of water. Suddenly, I spotted what looked to be black angels gliding through the water up ahead. They came closer and closer, until “Whoosh!” One flew right underneath me!

Then another one…and another…and another…until I was completely surrounded by the gentle giants. There must have been thirty of them surrounding me; this moment was simply incredible!

Then, as I dove down, the mantas started flipping over and over again. One flip…two flips…three flips…How did they not get dizzy? I dove down and admired this intriguing behavior. I later learned that mantas flip, somersault, and barrel-roll while feeding for one primary reason: energy efficiency. This acrobatic behavior is called somersault feeding or barrel-rolling. Did you know that engineers and scientists heavily study manta rays’ physical filtration anatomy and their fluid swimming maneuvers to design modern technologies such as filters, biomimetic underwater drones, and more efficient robotic sample collection? See? Many animal behaviors can be harnessed to create more efficient technologies! That’s the beauty of biomimicry!