MadSci Network: General Biology |
Hi Elizabeth, Hmm, interesting question. I thought manta rays were much too small to do that kind of damage, but it turns out that the largest manta ray on record (in scientific literature) was measured at 22 feet, although some have been reported up to nearly 30 feet. Wow!! I'd love to see one that big. Most manta rays don't get bigger than about 12 feet across. So I guess I'd need to know how big the yacht you're thinking of is. I think of yachts as being big boats, so I doubt a manta ray could actually tip one over. I can't prove that, but here's some more information from Reef Quest Expeditions, originally gathered for Shark Research Institute. Their Web site says that: "There are numerous reports, mostly anecdotal, of harpooned Mantas leaping on small vessels and smashing them or their occupants. Some of these cases may have resulted in the death of one or more people due to crushing or drowning, but it must be borne in mind that the animal was simply trying to defend itself. Divers have sometimes been injured accidentally while trying to ride or photograph Mantas from too close. But there is no record of an unprovoked Manta attacking or injuring a person." Most information on manta rays refers to them as gentle and/or harmless, so I don't think they're likely to tip over yachts. They might brush or bang up against yachts if they're disturbed, but my guess is that that's about it. Good luck with your project, Ruth
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