First Documented Courtship Behavior between Mobula birostris and M. alfredi at a Coral Reef Cleaning Station in Misool, Raja Ampat

Abstract

Though a previous study in Sudan confirmed the existence of a living hybrid of an oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) and a reef manta ray (M. alfredi), courtship behaviors between the two closely related species have never been documented. Here we report the first observation of courtship behaviors between two male M. birostris and a female M. alfredi at a manta ray cleaning station on a shallow coral reef seamount in Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The observed courtship event lasted for approximately 45 min and involved one male oceanic manta actively chasing the mature reef manta female around the cleaning station and repeatedly bumping her on the left wing tip with his right cephalic lobe, while the second male continuously flanked the female to seemingly prevent her retreat from the cleaning station and potential evasion of the pursuing male. Notably, the female exhibited a rapid coloration change, likely indicative of courtship-related stress, transitioning from the striking pale hue she exhibited throughout the courtship activity to a normal chevron pattern once the males departed.