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Manta Rays Are the Smartest Fish with a Brain Like a Dolphin

Imagine an airplane with a wingspan of 7 meters, quietly soaring in the ocean - this is the manta ray, the largest stingray in the world. Its "wings" are actually wide fins that look like triangles. When the manta ray swims, it seems as if a black and white bird is flying in the depths. This beauty weighs up to 2 tons - like a small car.

But the most amazing thing about a manta ray is its brain. Of all the fish on the planet, the manta ray has the largest and most complex brain relative to its body. Scientists are sure that manta rays can recognize themselves in a mirror — something only dolphins, elephants, great apes, and humans can do. This means that a manta ray understands: «This is me!» Imagine a fish that is aware of itself!

Mantas are playful and inquisitive. Divers say that a manta ray can swim up to you, hover nearby, and stare at you intently. Sometimes it even «plays» — it spins around swimmers, blowing bubbles. Mantas also jump out of the water — they fly 2 meters above the waves and flap their «wings» so that the sound can be heard a kilometer away.

By the way, the manta ray has no sting at all, although it is a ray. It is completely safe for humans. The manta ray feeds on plankton - tiny creatures that it filters from the water through special gills, like a huge underwater sieve.

If you see a manta ray — in the sea or in a movie — remember: you're looking at a quiet giant with a wise heart and a brain similar to yours.