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Love chase

During November, manta rays gather on a reef off Mozambique in ever increasing numbers to court and mate. When a female manta is ready to mate, she leads males on a chase. A train of males, sometimes up to 20 individuals, chase her at high speeds around the reef, mirroring her every move. Mantas give birth to one pup every other year after a 12 month pregnancy. This limited ability to repopulate is one of the most important recent discoveries about manta life, as it highlights their vulnerability to fishing and other pressures.

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