Manta ray embryos develop into pups and eventually emerge as fully-formed mini-mantas from the mother’s body. Read more here about the mating rituals and techniques of manta rays!Īfter the egg is fertilized, the female manta ray will carry it inside her body for 12-13 months before giving birth.

This means that when it comes time for birth, the babies are fully developed and ready to be released into the ocean!Įxamples of ovoviviparous animals are several types of snakes, some salamanders, etc.ĭuring mating season, manta ray males will compete with each other for access to females in order to fertilize her egg sac. Unlike many other species that lay eggs outside their bodies and fertilize them externally with sperm from another fish, ovoviviparous fish (like mantas) produce eggs within their bodies that hatch while still inside the mother. You try and say that aloud five times in a row!

There’s one word I usually avoid when talking about manta rays, even though it’s an important part of what mantas are: “ovoviviparous”. This makes them rather special! How the Eggs of a Manta Ray Develop: Inside their Body The main difference between holocephalans and elasmobranchs (and this is where we get to the point) is that while holocephalans lay eggs, elasmobranchs (including mantas!) give birth to live pups. There are two types of cartilaginous fish: elasmobranch and holocephalans. The cartilaginous skeleton gives manta rays and their fellow elasmobranchs even greater flexibility than other types of fish. However, Elasmobranchii are cartilaginous, which means their skeletons are made of cartilage instead of bone. When most people think of fish, they first think of “bony fish”: the skeleton of most fish is composed of bones. They belong to a group of cartilaginous fish called Elasmobranchs, which include sharks, rays, and skates. Let’s dive into manta ray reproduction and explore where little manta rays come from! Are Manta Rays Fish or Mammals? Manta Ray Classificationįirst things first, let’s not keep you waiting: manta rays are most definitely fish. From their majestic wings to the unique way they reproduce, manta rays are one of the most fascinating creatures in our oceans.īut how do these gentle giants of the sea reproduce? Are manta rays fish or mammals? Do they lay eggs, are manta ray pups born alive, or is it something else entirely?

Manta ray skeleton