And I want to fly: why do stingrays jump out of the water?

Amazing creatures - mobuls - live in tropical and subtropical waters. These are giant stingrays, which are often called flying for their ability to jump high out of the water, waving their fins, and stay in the air for a while. I wonder why they need it?

Mobulas are the closest relatives of manta rays, the largest stingrays on earth (they are also called sea devils). The dimensions of the diamond-shaped body of mobulas vary from one meter to five, depending on the species. Large individuals prefer to stay in small groups, smaller representatives of the family live in numerous flocks.

Despite its solid size, this genus of cartilaginous fish has not yet been well studied by scientists. In particular, the main mystery remains the reason why mobulas from time to time jump out of the water for several meters, amusingly waving their fins in flight, so similar to wings. The sight, I must say, is fascinating.

Some experts believe that this is such an unusual way of hunting. Although it is not very clear how flights help to catch the plankton that stingrays feed on. According to another version, mobules get rid of parasites in this way. And the closest to the truth, it seems, is the assumption that this is part of the ritual of courting females. What kind of inventions animals are not capable of for the sake of procreation…