![]() To breathe, manta rays have five pairs of gills on their underside. Baby mantas become active as soon as they ‘unroll’. "Now we have to make sure the baby grows in good health. Gestation is around a few months and 1-2 manta pups are born rolled up. "We unfolded some of the mysteries about the life of manta rays, including the length of their pregnancy," Toda said. The mother manta, which was brought to the aquarium in 1998 after hitting a fishnet off the southern island of Okinawa, about 1,000 miles southwest of Tokyo, mated with its partner on June 8, 2006, and was pregnant with the baby for 374 days, according to the statement.Īquarium official Minoru Toda said little has been known about the life of manta rays, and the record of pregnancy and the birth would provide valuable scientific data to the studies of the species. (The manta in the image above is not eating the little fish) Manta ray’s give birth to live young. because they get so big."Īccording to the aquarium, the newborn manta was more than six feet wide. ![]() ![]() "Aquariums that raise manta rays are rare to begin with. Science News Baby manta rays can 'breathe' in womb, ultrasound finds A rare ultrasound glimpse at a fetal manta ray reveals that that these graceful fish can 'breathe' in the womb. "I've never heard of any other case before," he said. Noriyasu Suzuki, an official at the Izu-Mito Sea Paradise commercial aqua zoo in western Japan, said he thought the birth in captivity could be a world first. The event marks the first birth of a manta in captivity, according to the aquarium, which started raising manta rays in 1988. The scene, recorded by the aquarium, was broadcast by national broadcaster NHK on Sunday. In a video capturing the birth, the baby manta, rolled up like a tube, came sliding out of the mother manta, then quickly spread its fins and began swimming around. The baby manta, a female, was born late Saturday in a huge fish tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, more than a year after its parents mated, the aquarium said in a statement posted Sunday on its Web site. These giant creatures are extremely curious and can be playful. They have developed areas for learning, problem solving and communication, creating the possibility for them to be self-aware. TOKYO - What is believed to be the first giant manta ray born in captivity has arrived at a southern Japanese aquarium, the facility said Sunday. Manta rays have the largest brain relative to body size of all known species of fish.
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