The manta ray has fascinated people for centuries. Yet we usually encounter them as they glide magnificently through the oceans. A luck few will get to see them break the surface and leap in to the air. For many people, however, the only time they will encounter a manta ray is in an aquarium. It is then that the inquisitive rays will show their faces, as it were. The result is quite extraordinary.
However, the physiology of the manta ray (rays in general in fact) has led to some confusion – often people think that they are being ‘eye-balled’ by a ray. The youngster in the picture above quite possibly believes that the ray in the pool is exchanging glances with him. Yet if you look at the first picture again you will see that the eyes are above these openings. These things that
look like eyes are in fact something else altogether.
