Aerial displays by mobula rays

@JudyEv (382240)
Rockingham, Australia
August 28, 2018 7:38pm CST
I don’t have a photo of mobula rays, which is what this post is about, so here is the tail of a whale. Someone sent us this link of mobula rays cavorting in the ocean. They are found in tropical and warm temperate waters and are known for their love of breaching. There are a number of species which have disc widths that vary from 1.1 metres to 5.2 metres (3.6–17.1 ft). The largest are only slightly smaller than the better known manta rays which can reach 5.5 to 7 metres (18 to 23 feet). Most species lack a tail stinger or, if they have one, it is encased. Only one has a free stinger. Parts of this clip remind me of a ballet performance although not so much the belly flops. Both sexes display this leaping-out-of-the-water behaviour either for sheer pleasure or to catch the eye of the opposite sex. I guess some creatures are impressed by belly flops.
SUBSCRIBE for more BBC highlights: https://bit.ly/2IXqEIn Programme website: http://bbc.co.uk/shark Hoping to attract a mate, Mobula Rays leap out of the wat...
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13 responses
@Courage7 (19626)
• United States
29 Aug 18
Oh now that was amazing. Pity I tried that and no one noticed Judy
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@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
29 Aug 18
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
Sad isn't it? Yet these shows wow all the rays! Can't understand it really.
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@Courage7 (19626)
• United States
30 Aug 18
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@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
29 Aug 18
Rays are fascinating creatures. Around here we don't have any large rays, but the cow nose rays can put on quite a spectacle when they come to shallow water to mate. Thousands of them crowd around and turn the water into a frothing maelstrom.
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@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
31 Aug 18
@JudyEv These rays look like miniature manta rays in some ways, but average about 12 to 18 inches across the wings. The time my son and I saw them during this mating ritual of theirs is the only time I've seen them in the wild.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Aug 18
@DWDavis I've never seen the in the wild. Some of the YouTube clips have been captured by drones. I suppose that is one good use for them.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
That would be really something. I've never seen rays.
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@snowy22315 (209014)
• United States
29 Aug 18
That is very interesting actually!
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
I love the way they shoot straight out of the water. And some of it was like synchronised swimming.
@sol_cee (38669)
• Philippines
29 Aug 18
It looked like it's flying..
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
It's a lovely clip isn't it?
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Aug 18
That was a whale of a tale.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
The rays were pretty mind-blowing too. But how much power must the whales have to get right out of the water like they do.
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@Starmaiden (9308)
• Canada
29 Aug 18
They are beautiful creatures while in their natural habitat.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
They are aren't they? And so graceful.
1 person likes this
• China
29 Aug 18
It is a strange animal.Small wonder some associated it to demon . I haven't seen it personally ,except on TV.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
I haven't seen it personally either but I enjoyed watching them doing their performance.
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@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
29 Aug 18
I have never seen one cavorting in the ocean, but when we were vacationing at the Bahamas, while we walked in the water, one came to touch my feet. I had the scare of my life.
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@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
30 Aug 18
@JudyEv I had not noticed the ray come, I think I screamed.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
@LadyDuck I would have screamed too - and taken steps, long and often and in the direction of the beach.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
Oh gosh, that would be scary.
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@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Aug 18
Thank you for sharing. This is interesting I have never heart of mobula rays before just sting rays.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
It seems there is always more than one 'type' of these things.
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@xFiacre (14790)
• Ireland
29 Aug 18
@judyev Belly flops are more likely to induce ridicule than turn ones mind to love. Maybe we’ve got it all wrong - wouldn’t be the first time.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
I doubt it's possible to change people's opinions of belly-flops now.
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@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Aug 18
I can give them a run for their money with my own bellyflops! haha
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@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Aug 18
@JudyEv You haven't seen me belly-flop before! It's epic!
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
I'm not sure a video of your performance would be quite as breath-taking as watching these rays. But .... maybe I'm wrong.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Aug 18
@moffittjc Epic? Wow, now I'm impressed!
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@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Sep 18
That was fascinating. I've never seen that animal or knew any other than a whale or dolphin breached. Beautiful! Huge splash!
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@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Sep 18
@JudyEv Yes, it was. I could watch that all day and never be bored. I guess I live a boring lifestyle if that would hold my attention.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 18
@just4him No, I don't think so (that you live a boring life). They are just so graceful they would hold anyone's attention.
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep 18
Weren't they amazing? It was almost like synchronised swimming - but better.
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@tom_view (6569)
• Kolkata, India
29 Aug 18
great view
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@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
We were lucky to capture the photo of the whale. He came right out of the water but we were looking the other way.
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@tom_view (6569)
• Kolkata, India
30 Aug 18
@JudyEv yes.that is the pont.
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