A Giant Oceanic Manta Ray Just Cruised Past Jones Beach
Spotted: one seriously ginormous visitor cruising close to one of New York’s busiest stretches of beach.
An oceanic manta ray — the largest species of ray in the world — was recently filmed feeding just offshore near Jones Beach State Park on Long Island, giving beachgoers a rare look at one of the ocean’s most majestic giants.
And despite the sheer size of the thing, this was not some lurking sea-monster situation. Oceanic mantas are filter feeders, sweeping through the water for zooplankton rather than hunting swimmers or beachgoers.
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BIG RAY, ZERO DRAMA
Oceanic manta rays can grow to enormous sizes, but these gentle filter feeders are not considered a threat to humans.
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Why an Oceanic Manta Ray Near Long Island Is Such a Sight
Oceanic manta rays are usually associated with tropical, subtropical and temperate seas, so seeing one this close to shore in New York is unusual enough to get attention. State wildlife officials note that the species can still appear in local waters during the warmer summer months.
The individual seen near Jones Beach was filmed feeding, which is typical manta behavior. These animals move through plankton-rich water with their mouths open, filtering tiny organisms from the sea.
The World’s Largest Ray Species Can Top 4,000 Pounds
The oceanic manta ray is the planet’s largest ray species and can weigh more than 4,000 pounds. They can also live for decades, with wildlife officials citing lifespans of up to roughly 40 years.
That does not mean the Jones Beach animal itself was the largest manta ray ever recorded — no size for this individual has been publicly given. What makes the sighting remarkable is the species, the location and just how close to shore it appeared.
Harmless to People, Majestic as All Get-Out
Unlike stingrays, manta rays do not have a venomous tail barb, and the oceanic manta is not considered a threat to humans. Its entire feeding strategy is built around microscopic prey.
So while something that large suddenly appearing beside a packed American beach sounds like the opening scene of a creature feature, this one was simply Mother Nature stopping by for lunch.
Watch the Oceanic Manta Ray Feeding Near Jones Beach
The supplied short-form clip shows the rare oceanic manta ray sighting close to shore off Jones Beach State Park on Long Island.
Source: New York State Parks, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and ABC News.
