Courtship and mating behaviour of manta rays Mobula alfredi and M-birostris in the Maldives

被引:53
|
作者
Stevens, Guy M. W. [1 ,2 ]
Hawkins, Julie P. [2 ]
Roberts, Callum M. [2 ]
机构
[1] Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Dorchester DT2 0NT, Dorset, England
[2] Univ York, Environm Dept, York, N Yorkshire, England
关键词
cleaning stations; copulation; courtship trains; mate choice; reproductive behaviour; REPRODUCTIVE-BIOLOGY; HUMPBACK WHALES; FUNCTIONAL-MORPHOLOGY; TONIC IMMOBILITY; MALE COMPETITION; NURSE SHARK; ECOLOGY; HISTORY; CONSERVATION; COPULATION;
D O I
10.1111/jfb.13768
中图分类号
S9 [水产、渔业];
学科分类号
0908 ;
摘要
The aim of this 14 year study was to elucidate the entire courtship and mating behaviour of manta rays Mobula alfredi and M. birostris using behavioural observations, video and photographic records. From 2003 to 2016, over 11,000 surveys were undertaken at known manta ray aggregation sites in the Maldives to record any observed manta rays reproductive activity. From 47,591 photo-ID sightings, 4,247 individual M. alfredi were identified and 226 individual M. birostris from 229 photo-ID sightings, all recorded at 22 atolls across 265 different sites. Courtship activity was observed on 206 surveys at 30 different sites. A total of 229 courtship events were recorded, with 90% (n = 205) of them occurring at cleaning sites. The observed courtship activity was categorised into seven distinct stages which are described in detail: initiation, endurance, evasion, pre-copulatory positioning, copulation, post-copulatory holding and separation. Photographs provide the first scientific record of the entirety of manta rays courtship and mating. Both M. alfredi and M. birostris appear to engage in the same elaborate courtship rituals, exhibiting the same behaviours during all stages of the courtship and mating process.
引用
收藏
页码:344 / 359
页数:16
相关论文
共 36 条
  • [1] Sublethal Injuries and Physical Abnormalities in Maldives Manta Rays, Mobula alfredi and Mobula birostris
    Strike, Elspeth M.
    Harris, Joanna L.
    Ballard, Kirsty L.
    Hawkins, Julie P.
    Crockett, Jennifer
    Stevens, Guy M. W.
    [J]. FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE, 2022, 9
  • [2] A hitchhiker guide to manta rays: Patterns of association between Mobula alfredi, M. birostris, their symbionts, and other fishes in the Maldives
    Nicholson-Jack, Aimee E.
    Harris, Joanna L.
    Ballard, Kirsty
    Turner, Katy M. E.
    Stevens, Guy M. W.
    [J]. PLOS ONE, 2021, 16 (07):
  • [3] The geographic distribution of reef and oceanic manta rays (Mobula alfredi and Mobula birostris) in Australian coastal waters
    Armstrong, Amelia J.
    Armstrong, Asia O.
    Bennett, Michael B.
    McGregor, Frazer
    Abrantes, Katya G.
    Barnett, Adam
    Richardson, Anthony J.
    Townsend, Kathy A.
    Dudgeon, Christine L.
    [J]. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, 2020, 96 (03) : 835 - 840
  • [4] The genetic signature of recent speciation in manta rays (Manta alfredi and M. birostris)
    Kashiwagi, Tom
    Marshall, Andrea D.
    Bennett, Michael B.
    Ovenden, Jennifer R.
    [J]. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION, 2012, 64 (01) : 212 - 218
  • [5] Preliminary insights into the population characteristics and distribution of reef (Mobula alfredi) and oceanic (M. birostris) manta rays in French Polynesia
    Carpentier, Alice S.
    Berthe, Cecile
    Ender, Isabel
    Jaine, Fabrice R. A.
    Mourier, Johann
    Stevens, Guy
    De Rosemont, Moeava
    Clua, Eric
    [J]. CORAL REEFS, 2019, 38 (06) : 1197 - 1210
  • [6] Individual flexibility in group foraging behaviour of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi)
    Murray, Annie
    Royaute, Raphael
    Stevens, Guy M. W.
    Roberts, Callum
    Arnold, Kathryn E.
    [J]. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY, 2024, 78 (07)
  • [7] Distribution of the reef manta ray Mobula alfredi and the oceanic manta ray Mobula birostris in the Philippines: a collaborative effort for conservation
    Rambahiniarison, Joshua
    Agustines, Ariana
    Alexopoulos, Konstantinos
    Araujo, Gonzalo
    Armstrong, Asia O.
    Arnold, Shannon
    Barruga, Aldrin
    Canete, Titus
    Conales Jr, Segundo
    Delijero, Kymry
    Enolva, Nonie P.
    Flam, Anna L.
    Keane, Eliya
    Labaja, Jessica
    Legaspi, Christine G.
    Murie, Calum
    Murray, Ryan
    Oliver, Simon P.
    Pierce, Simon J.
    Ponzo, Alessandro
    Rohner, Christoph A.
    Schifferer, Rosanna
    Snow, Sally
    Spakowski, Martina
    Stevens, Guy M. W.
    Tilgel, Timur
    Wong, Jessica N. C.
    Andrew Yaptinchay, Arnel
    Barr, Yotam
    [J]. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, 2023, 102 (02) : 492 - 503
  • [8] Correction to: Preliminary insights into the population characteristics and distribution of reef (Mobula alfredi) and oceanic (M. birostris) manta rays in French Polynesia
    Alice S. Carpentier
    Cécile Berthe
    Isabel Ender
    Fabrice R. A. Jaine
    Johann Mourier
    Guy Stevens
    Moeava De Rosemont
    Eric Clua
    [J]. Coral Reefs, 2019, 38 : 1353 - 1353
  • [9] Multi-decade catches of manta rays (Mobula alfredi, M. birostris) from South Africa reveal significant decline
    Carpenter, Michelle
    Parker, Denham
    Dicken, Matthew L.
    Griffiths, Charles L.
    [J]. FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE, 2023, 10
  • [10] Regional Movements of Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi) in Seychelles Waters
    Peel, Lauren R.
    Stevens, Guy M. W.
    Daly, Ryan
    Daly, Clare A. Keating
    Collin, Shaun P.
    Nogues, Josep
    Meekan, Mark G.
    [J]. FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE, 2020, 7