Review and photos by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
Biggest of all rays, the magnificent manta ray is an imposing but gentle giant that feeds only on zooplankton. What you may not be aware of is that there are currently two recognized species: the giant oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) and the smaller reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi).
CollectA released this figure back in 2006, three years prior to the establishment of the two species, so they simply labelled it a manta ray. Its dorsal side is coloured very dark blue-grey with black and pale pink eyes, while its ventral side is white with many airbrushed blue-grey spots. Based on these colours, I am inclined to conclude that this is a reef manta ray. Reef mantas reach a maximum size of about 5.5 metres, whereas giant oceanic mantas can achieve 7 metres. Reef mantas are found mostly in the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific and tend to inhabit shallow coastal regions. Real reef mantas also have smaller, more solid spots on their ventral side than the ones on this figure.
From the tips of its large cephalic lobes to the end of its tail, this manta ray measures 15 cm long and boasts a finspan of 15.5 cm, making it 1:20 (average). It is sculpted in a basic swimming pose with its pectoral fins undulating, its cephalic lobes curling outward at the tips, its mouth tightly shut, and its tail held straight out behind its body. The texture is smooth all over, which you’d expect on any ray figure. If you’ve ever petted a cownose day or a stingray in an aquarium touch tank, or if you’ve had the opportunity to touch a manta ray in the wild (which you really shouldn’t do), you know that their bodies are covered in a protective layer of mucus that gives them a slimy but smooth feel.
The manta’s ventral side correctly features a total of ten gill slits. More interestingly, there is a very visible set of claspers between the pelvic fins. Yes, this reef manta is a male, one of the very few male elasmobranch (the subclass of sharks and rays) figures currently in existence!
Overall, I find the CollectA manta ray to be a very good toy in spite of its age. A solid recommendation. Oh, and if you’re in search of a giant oceanic manta ray for your collection, Safari Ltd. has two figures in their standard and Monterey Bay Aquarium series that should suffice!
