Mkhulu kangakanani umhlanga waseReef
Context:I-reef manta ray (i-Mobula alfredi) uhlobo lwe-ray emndenini we-Mobulidae, enye yama-ray amakhulu kunawo wonke emhlabeni. Phakathi kwezinhlobo ezivame ukubizwa ngokuthi ama-ray, yilona uhlobo lwe-ray olunobukhulu besibili, oludlulwa i-manta ray enkulu yasolwandle kuphela.  Lolu hlobo lwachazwa ngo-1868 uGerard Krefft, umqondisi we-Australian Museum. Wayiqamba ngokuthi uM. alfredi ehlonipha u-Alfred, uMbusi wase-Edinburgh, ilungu lokuqala lomkhaya wasebukhosini waseBrithani elavakashela e-Australia. Ekuqaleni yachazwa njengengxenye yohlobo lweManta kodwa ngo-2017 yashintshwa, kanye namanye ama-manta, ukuze ifakwe njengengxenye yohlobo lweMobula.  Ama-reef manta ray ngokuvamile angama-3 kuya ku-3.5 m (9.8 kuya ku-11.5 ft) ububanzi bediski, ngosayizi omkhulu ongaba ngu-5.5 m (18 ft). Isikhathi eside sihlanganiswe ku-M. birostris, isimo se-reef manta ray njengohlobo oluhlukile saqinisekiswa kuphela ngo-2009. I-reef manta ray itholakala kabanzi ezindaweni ezishisayo nezishisayo zase-Indo-Pacific, kodwa kunamarekhodi ambalwa avela e-East Atlantic eshisayo futhi akukho okuvela eWest Atlantic noma e-East Pacific. Uma kuqhathaniswa ne-giant oceanic manta ray, i-reef manta ray ivame ukutholakala ezindaweni ezingajulile, ezisogwini, kodwa ngezinye izikhathi kubikwa ngokufuduka kwendawo. I-Mobula birostris ibukeka ifana ne-Mobula alfredi futhi lezi zinhlobo ezimbili zingase zididaniswe njengoba ukusabalala kwazo kuhlangana. Nokho, kunezici ezihlukanisa.
Ama-reef manta ray ngokuvamile angama-3 kuya ku-3.5 m (9.8 kuya ku-11.5 ft) ububanzi bediski, ngosayizi omkhulu ongaba ngu-5.5 m (18 ft).