What would you rate this manta’s flip out of 10? Mantas often dance and swirl while feeding, but we’re going to pretend this one is celebrating its newest protections. Manta rays — along with devil rays, whale sharks, and oceanic whitetip sharks — just received the highest level of protection at CITES. Manta rays are elasmobranchs, like sharks. They’re enormous yet harmless, with no stinger or teeth. Their best defense is a quick escape, powered by their wide, wing-like fins. And just like whales, they feed only on plankton. Those odd-looking “horns” beside their mouths are called cephalic fins, and they help funnel plankton into their mouths. Many manta populations have declined by around 90% due to overfishing for their meat and gill plates. Because mantas reproduce slowly, with just one pup every few years, sustainable harvest simply isn’t possible. Their new protections ban global trade, offering hope for their recovery. It’ll take time, but this gives them a fighting chance. V...