manta ray
nounDefinition of manta ray
: devil ray especially : a ray (Manta birostris) that averages 22 feet (6.7 meters) in width with a weight reaching 3000 pounds (1361 kilograms)
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Examples of manta ray in a Sentence
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Borunda reports that protecting a manta ray nursery site is critical for their survival. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Teeming Manta Ray Nursery Discovered in the Gulf of Mexico," 19 June 2018 On another day, guests can snorkel and possibly swim among manta rays. — Phil Marty, chicagotribune.com, "A wild look at Indonesia, a lauded hotel at a winning price and more," 2 July 2018 Finding a juvenile manta ray, which are downright rare in most parts of the ocean. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Teeming Manta Ray Nursery Discovered in the Gulf of Mexico," 19 June 2018 Total population estimates are few and far between—especially for the mysterious giant manta ray. — Brian J. Skerry, National Geographic, "Rare Manta Ray Nursery Discovered," 18 June 2018 Scuba dive with manta rays in Kona, Hawaii Getty Images 14. — Marie Claire, "20 Adventures To Have In Your Lifetime," 13 Aug. 2014 After that, Aquatica Orlando employees got the perk of being among the first to ride Ray Rush, which features an open air half-pipe that resembles a manta ray to serve as inspiration for the slide’s name. — Gabrielle Russon, OrlandoSentinel.com, "SeaWorld Aquatica's Ray Rush ride was months in the making," 11 May 2018 Between 1995 and 2009, the reef’s biodiversity increased 463 percent, and every major species returned, even large predators like bull sharks and manta rays. — New York Times, "Place 10 of 52: In Los Cabos, Beaches Abound, but So Does Generosity," 24 Apr. 2018 And finally, dive into a Great Big Story about a marine biologist who's spent her life studying manta rays. — CNN, "CNN 10 - March 29, 2018," 28 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'manta ray.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
7 Unfamiliar Words for Familiar...
7 Unfamiliar Words for Familiar Creatures
'Camelopard', 'sea devil', and more
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The first known use of manta ray was in 1951
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