They are very similar, mantas and mobulas, because they belong to the same subfamily Mobulinar.
What are the similarities?
The shape of the body - diamond-shaped disk with "wings" for flight, dark back, light-colored abdomen.
What is the difference?
Body size and proportions. Mantas are generally larger than mobulas. While a manta can reach a wingspan of nine meters, a mobula can reach a maximum of five meters, and the average mobula is only a meter and a half.
Tail. In mantas it is shorter than the width of the disk, while in mobulas it is longer.
Coloration. Mantas have characteristic dots on the underside, the abdomen, while mobulas do not.
Structure. Mantas do not have a spike at the base of the tail, while mobulas have one.
The main difference is the mouth! Both mantas and mobulas have pronounced head fins in the front. But in mantas, the mouth is at the very front of the head, between the head fins. And in mobul fins, firstly, are located closer to each other, and secondly, the mouth itself is on the underside of the head, as if on the neck. From the look of it is very similar to the horns put forward.
You can see the differences with your own eyes on our dive safaris. Hurry up +960 758-44-40 to find a suitable tour option.
