What is the difference between bat ray and manta ray?

Answer 1

Manta Rays grow to a much larger size than Stingrays, but I'd say the biggest difference is that Stingrays have a "stinger", a hard, thin rod-like appendage that lies in a groove in it's tail until it's frightened or threatened at which time it will will 'lift' it up, out and over it's back, and drive it into the flesh of it's perceived (or real) attacker and 'sting' it - it's very painful!

Manta Rays have a similar tail to Stingrays, but over evolutionary-time, they've "lost" the 'stinger'.

Stingrays are thought to be evolutionarily older than Mantas mainly because Mantas have evolved from being bottom filter-feeders into Open-Ocean filter-feeders while stingrays have remained bottom feeders. This is why, if you should go into the water where they are found (like off the coast of Australia), you will likely be warned to do the "Stingray Shuffle"....this frightens the rays away and helps you to avoid stepping on one - if you do, you most likely will be stung.

It was once thought that there was only one "type" of Manta Ray. But, it has been discovered that there are actually two:

- One is call the Giant Manta Ray and these Rays migrate around in the Ocean for long distances

- The other, first discovered, smaller and thought to be "older' Mantas stay closer to the shore

A believed to be newly discovered 'type' of Giant Ray is even larger than the other and have what some believe to be a vestigial stinger which can be seen on them as a small 'bump' at the base of the tail (vestigial = an evolutionarily 'withered', and basically useless to the 'modern' animal, body part - in humans, the appendix is thought to be vestigial)

The discovery of the Giant Rays with this (thought by some) vestigial, "bump" now have people wondering - Which 'came first' - The smaller, more common Manta, or the Giant?

Although Stingrays are more aggressive, by virtue of their "stinger", both are basically 'peaceful' creatures.

There are other differences between the Manta and Stingray, but I believe what I've mentioned suffices as the "major" differences.

Answer 2

sting rays sting and manta rays dont sting rays live hiding on the bottom and eat small creatures manta rays are free swimming and filter feed.