Manta Ray (Sharks of the World Museum Model by Colorata)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

When it comes to chondrichthyes, the sharks always come up at the top of the popularity lists. In fact, whenever a toy company makes a fish figure, it’s always almost going to be a shark, usually a great white shark. Their cousins, the rays and chimaeras, are not so lucky in terms of treatment, and the luckiest non-shark chondrichthian to receive figure treatment is the largest of the rays and largest fish that isn’t a shark alive today, the manta ray. Manta rays are unique in being the only vertebrates having 3 pairs of appendages (a pair of cephalic lobes, a pair of pectoral fins, and a pair of pelvic fins) and were once thought to be a single species (Mobula birostris), until 2009 when it was split into two distinct species: The reef manta (M. alfredi) and the giant oceanic (M. birostis). In 2017 they were classified in the family Mobulidae, along with the devil rays and the mobulas. Reef Manta rays inhabit areas around reefs around the Indo-Pacific and the can get up to 5.5 metres in width, although they average at 3.0 to 3.5 metres and don’t usually exceed 4.0 metres in width. The giant oceanic manta inhabits open waters throughout the tropics and get to about 7.0 metres wide, although They average at 4.5 metres and usually don’t exceed 6.0 metres. They are intelligent for fish, due to having the largest brain of all fish and are capable of self awareness by recognizing themselves in mirrors. Despite their fearsome appearance, these giants pose little treats to humans as they only eat small fish and zooplankton; however, they are capable of leaping onto boats. Unfortunately, the species are classed as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN as even though they have very few predators, such as large sharks and maybe orcas; their main predators are humans. They are often caught as unintentional bycatch and for their gill rakers, which are used in traditional medicine which sadly isn’t effective nor backed up by science.

About the figure. Colorata marketed this figure as Mobula birostis (as Manta birostris), but judging by the pattern on the top and bottom of the figure, I can deduce that this figure is a reef manta ray From the patterns of the white markings on the shoulder, which is a ‘Y’ shape and the distribution of the black spots on the ventral side which reaches all the way to the top. Giant oceanic mantas, on the other hand, have a ‘T’ shape white marking on the shoulder and black spots only going up to the halfway point on the ventral side This figure was made before the 2 species were established, so we can forgive Colorata.

The figure has a scaly texture, like some figures in the Sharks of the World Deluxe box set. The figure is painted black on the dorsal side and the markings are a white colour but the markings on the fins are a light gray colour and white with black spots on the underside. There is a circular hole where the base is attached, but mine did not come to the base. From wingtip to wingtip, this Manta Ray is 16cm when measured along the curves which would put this figure to about 1:25 scale for an average size and a 1: 33.75 scale for the largest individual. Judging by the lack of claspers, this model represents a female. This figure has her mouth sculpted wide open, as is she’s feeding on the tiny zooplankton in the water column. The gills are sculpted correctly, 5 pairs. They are raised to aid in filtering the zooplankton that she is filtering from the seawater.

Despite how flawless this sculpt looks, I have 3 very minor issues with this figure. First, this figure is sculpted with the vestigial stinger which is only present in the giant oceanic manta, but seeing that it is sculpted before the 2 species were established, I can cut them some slack. Secondly, manta rays in real life, especially eagle rays, have a slimy yet smooth feel when touch and I would think this figure is better off smooth. Lastly, there is a seam on the tail of my copy.

Overall, I think this is probably the best manta ray figure but also one of the rarest. After buying mine off Taobao, I have not seen this figure online except Yahoo Auctions Japan where it retails for ¥2,480. If you’re looking to add this beauty to your collection, get it quick as it will probably be the last time you see one for some time. If not, you can consider runners up for the best in the retired but not as rare Schleich 2013 manta ray or the still in production Monterey Bay Aquarium manta ray by Safari Ltd.