40 Years and Counting: Taurus, Oldest Manta Ray in the World Still Living Healthily in Great Barrier Reef

Taurus, a rare manta ray, was first captured on camera in 1982 as it sailed through waters off the southern Great Barrier Reef. With its distinctive black belly, the melanistic ray, the oldest manta ray in the world, continues to astound divers even after 40 years.

Asia Armstrong, a research fellow from the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), said that in addition, there was a sighting of him approximately a month ago.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of his first sighting.

According to the researcher, Lady Elliot Island is frequented by Taurus. Over 50 times, he has been seen in the area.

Meanwhile, there have not been reports of his sightings in any other area or location.

About 10% of the manta ray population along Australia's east coast are melanistic.

When Peter Allen first captured a picture of Taurus in 1982, he was already an adult male.

It is thought to be the oldest manta ray known to exist, living for more than 50 years.

According to Armstrong, the organization does have a respectable global network of manta ray researchers who compile these sighting databases.

Nobody has come forward to report seeing another manta ray in all of those years.

So as far as the data shows, Taurus remains to be the oldest known recorded manta ray.

Melanistic (or black) manta rays are completely black on their backs and about altogether black on their underside. They have a central white blaze that differs in size and shape and can be used to identify previously seen rays.

In contrast to typical manta rays, which are dark grey on their backs and often white on their undersides.

Melanism is characterized by an increase in the darker pigments in an animal's skin or fur, resulting in individuals with darker skin tones or wholly black coats.

These melanistic creatures are simply another color variation within a species, despite the fact that they are frequently mistaken for being a different species.

Melanism is uncommon in marine species, but it is particularly common in terrestrial species like black panthers, which are actually leopards or jaguars. 

Read also: New Study Found Evidence of Stingrays Making Sounds 

The mutant pink manta ray

Although Taurus is the most melanistic ray on the east coast, Lady Elliot Island is also home to other undersea marvels.

Experts believed that the three-meter-wide pink ray known as Inspector Clouseau may have resulted from a genetic mutation.

Armstrong said that the pink manta ray, like Taurus, has not yet been spotted anywhere else.

A dive team member from Lady Elliot Island last saw the unusual animal in August.

Over 1,500 distinct manta rays have been located off the east coast of Australia by USC's Project Manta database.

Armstrong explained that on their belly, manta rays have this distinctive spot pattern. So, just like a fingerprint, each person is born with a distinct pattern that does not change over time.

She said anyone with images of the species could aid in the study of its populations in Australia and its surrounding areas.

USC can use photos of manta rays with their distinctive belly pattern to follow the marine animals over time.

She claimed that just by looking at the pictures, they could follow their movements, growth rates, and a variety of other things, ABC News reported.

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