school of fish in background
homeabout your sanctuaryvisiting your sanctuaryeducationsciencemanagementnews and eventsprotecting resourcesimage librarydocument libraryopportunities volunteersadvisory councilpartnersNOAA logo - a circle with a stylized seabird in flight; background is dark blue above the bird and light blue below the bird.

Image Library

MANTA CATALOG PREVIEW IMAGES - SPOTS

The Manta Catalog consists of a series of images and sighting information for individual mantas that have been seen at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary or nearby banks.

Each manta ray has been placed in a category depending on its unique underbelly markings. However, some manta rays' markings might be interpreted differently by different people, so be sure to look at images in all categories to find the manta you are trying to identify.

This page includes images of mantas with spot-like markings on their undersides.

CLICK ON THE BUTTONS BELOW TO VIEW
ADDITIONAL MANTA IMAGES

Button labeled "squares" that links to an image page of manta rays with square-like patternsindividual has square-like blotches

Button labeled "spots & squares" that links to an image page of manta rays with spot & square patternsindividual has a combinationof spots and square patterns

Button labeled "mostly black" that links to an image page of manta rays with mostly black undersidesindividual is predominantly black/gray with few other markings

Button labeled "mostly white" that links to an image page of manta rays with mostly white undersidesindividual is predominantly white with few other markings

Button labeled "tagged" that links to an image page of manta rays with acoustic tags on themindividual has a tag on its dorsal (top) side

You can also download a Manta Catalog poster showing all the identified mantas sorted into their separate categories (as shown above).

Click on a picture below to see a larger image of the manta and information about sightings of that individual. All downloaded images should be credited to the person(s) listed with each photo. If an image lacks a photo credit, the photographer is not known.


Manta M1
September 1997
Manta ray M2
Manta M2
1993
Photo Credit: Jesse Cancelmo

Manta M3

Manta M4
June 1995
Photo Credit: Ferrell Cruise

Manta M7
1990
Photo Credit: John Embesi

Manta M9
December 1997
Photo Credit: Gittings/FGBNMS

Manta M12
1988
Photo Credit: Jesse Cancelmo

Manta M15
February 2000
Photo Credit: Kip Evans

Manta M16
February 2000
Photo Credit: Kip Evans

Manta M20
August 2006
Photo Credit: Neal Baltz

Manta M22
July 2008
Photo Credit: Sarah Davies

Manta M24
October 2006
Photo Credit: Christopher Parsons

Manta M29
January 2005
Photo Credit: Russ Wilkins

Manta M32
August 2007
Photo Credit: Sarah Davies

Manta M36
August 2004
Photo Credit: Andy Felth

Manta M38
October 2006
Photo Credit: Christoper Parsons

Manta M44
October 2004
Photo Credit: Lance Horn

Manta M47
October 2004
Photo Credit: Walt

Manta M49
September 2007
Photo Credit: Hickerson/FGBNMS

Manta M53
September 2001

Manta M56
Photo Credit: Dick Zingula

Manta M60
1990
Photo Credit: Jesse Cancelmo

Manta M62
Photo Credit: Russ Wilkins

top of page



weather report observations cool stuff get wet


Juvenile blue tang (fish).  Bright yellow body with irridescent blue marking around eye and at top edge of dorsal fin.
   
National Marine Sanctuary logo - a stylized whale tail above waves