By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Published: 20:33 BST, 26 August 2026 | Updated: 21:51 BST, 26 August 2026
The world's largest manta ray was spotted lurking off the coast of Long Island, New York, carrying a passenger as it hunted for food.
A video shared by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) captured the majestic creature with another fish riding along.
Known as a giant oceanic manta ray, this creature can have a wingspan up to 26 feet and weigh over 4,000 pounds.
'This video shows an oceanic manta ray feeding close to shore off Jones Beach State Park,' NYSDEC said in a Facebook post.
'Manta rays are filter feeders. They consume large quantities of zooplankton closer to shore, and out in deeper water they can forage for medium-sized fish.'
Manta rays are found across tropical, subtropical and temperate oceans, and spend most of their lives out to sea.
But the NYSDEC said they sometimes venture into New York waters during warmer months.
The rays were listed as a threatened species in 2018 after humans nearly decimated the population for their valuable gill plates, which are used in international trade and traditional medicines.
A video shared by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) captured the majestic creature with another fish riding along.
Jones Beach is one of America's busiest beaches, welcoming around six million visitors every year.
The NYSDE released the video on August 17, but did not clarify when the ray was seen.
The ray's companion appeared to be a shark, but could have also been a different species of fish.
Sharks do not travel together with manta rays as partners, but they occasionally meet in the ocean when sharks use the rays to scratch their skin or when large sharks hunt them.
