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Flying Through Water
Manta rays are the largest rays in the ocean — their wingspan can reach 23 feet! They weigh up to 3,000 pounds. Watching a manta ray swim is like watching a bird fly — they flap their huge, triangular pectoral fins like wings, gracefully gliding through the water. Manta rays sometimes leap completely out of the water, possibly to remove parasites or just for fun! Their name comes from the Spanish word 'manta,' meaning blanket or cloak — because they look like a giant blanket rippling through the sea.