The Alfredi manta rays are the most frequently watched species in Polynesian waters
Since Andrea Marshall work on manta rays in Mozambique in 2009, gender Manta was divided into two species (or even the possible presence of a third to be confirmed): the giant manta ray Manta birostris (Walbaum 1792 ) and the reef manta ray Manta Alfredi (Krefft 1868). This discovery has revolutionized our knowledge and taxonomy of manta rays in the world, yet some confusion still exists.
Two species of manta rays are found on Polynesian territory
Thus in Polynesia, manta rays are attributed to Manta birostris in all identification books. However, and this was corrected during the second international symposium on Manta Rays organized in French Polynesia in 2010, manta rays observed in the territory and so far in Bora Bora are Alfredi Manta scpecies. Much confusion thus remains present.
A recent oceanographic expedition in Marquesas islands has enabled for the first time to demonstrate the presence of two species of manta rays in Polynesian waters. With the exception of an old photo in Moorea found by ORP member, the only current presence of the giant manta ray was confirmed in the Marquesas where she shares the waters with its sister species Manta Alfredi. This finding also confirms Manta Alfredi presence in the most confined eastern area of the Pacific Ocean. A few instructors and thirty local dive centers help ORP to correctly identify the two species. A listing showing the main visual criteria was performed to facilitate the identification of both species while diving.
These recent observations showed also an increased of Reef Manta Ray presence around Leeward islands, Tetiaroa, Tahiti and also in Moorea where several observations were made in the Bay of Cook. Between 2001 and 2007, on the site of Anau in Bora Bora, Moeava Rosemont identified and photographed 98 manta rays. Those valuable datas are used by the Manta Trust, an international organization of reference for the identification of manta rays, which work for their protection at international level.
