Giant Eagle Rays Launching Themselves into the Air 🌊 Epic Animal Migrations | Smithsonian Channel

[@johnedwardjones999]

Lived near the beach in Kihei, Maui for 8 years. Swam laps daily in a 1/2 mile wide lagoon....One day while grabbing a mouthful of air, I saw a big shadow and froze. Fortunately it was an Eagle Ray not a shark... Stunning! Elegant! She swam with me now and then. Life changing glorious experience...an honor.

[@gilt2349]

What years? I lived on 3 island's from 87 to 95 building house's and the rest of the day I was in the ocean

[@thedude4795]

And one day it speared you with its tail

[@W.O.P.R]

Beautiful connection with such a wild animal…life altering

[@johnedwardjones999]

@@W.O.P.R O yes it it. Think of my experiences daily. My screen page is pic of Eagle Ray.

[@donnalambs9578]

Building houses 😂

[@blueeyes6852]

It just doesn't get any better for nature watchers❣ Thank Y👀u❣

[@PyrozPlayground]

That trifecta at 2:31! This is such an incredible video! The music, the narration, the camera work - epic! ♥️♥️♥️

[@philgroves7694]

It's really amazing when you see 10 - 15 leap and flip at once. Truly awesome!

[@4orl2c68]

Pity they got the name of the ray wrong.

[@philgroves7694]

Manta rays - yes, in the same family as eagle rays - but these are more commonly known as manta, or mobula, rays. They are gentle, peaceful, plankton feeders. And they can launch higher than 6 ft into the air. It is an amazing thing to see a massive school of these fish, especially when 10 - 15 leap at once, even flipping end-over-end. A remarkable and awesome thing to witness.

[@hungvu262]

I think these might devil rays since the mouth pieces aren't flat.

[@jayforerunner965]

These are Mubula rays not Manta rays. Mobula rays look very similar to manta rays, but are smaller and differ from mantas in a few other ways. The most obvious one is that the mouths of mantas are at the very tip of their body, facing forward ('terminal'), whereas the mouths of mobulas are underslung, just below the tip of the body ('subterminal').

[@solarnaut]

Phil Groves . . . thanks for the name correction and vivid description . . . . . . No Wonder It Gets Them Laid ! B-)

[@neishadaniel123]

Where did you witness this?

[@philgroves7694]

@@neishadaniel123 At several locations along the southern Baja coast of the Sea of Cortez - specifically at Isla San Francisco, Bahia Agua Verde, and Puerto Escondido. Pretty much every spring (April - June) massive schools of these fish are spawning and showing off their acrobatics. It is quite amazing to witness - and they do it 24 hours a day. They make a lot of noise, too.

[@NorthOKCLee]

And this why I love this channel!!!

[@michaelorosco1436]

That was so cool! Look like a ballerina dance! Those things are huge!

[@jorgeecheverri6805]

cant stick the landing yet, 10/10 for the launch

[@ZenGuitarShred]

They need to bring the nose down and pull in the flaps lol

[@Jack_Hara]

Belly Flopppp lol still awesome

[@j.thomas7128]

It really is a perfect landing. They are trying to make large splashes to attract mates. Notice how every landing creates a splash and how they all are using their "wings" to slap the water. That action is intentional. Read about it. It really is worth learning about.

[@ZenGuitarShred]

@@j.thomas7128 Thanks for the info! Yes, that makes sense that nature has specific reason for things like that. Make you splash your mating call!

[@j.thomas7128]

@@ZenGuitarShred pozhaluysta, Mischa. I've learned so much about human behavior by watching and learning from animals in nature. Truth be known, i learned more from my dog about behavior than college courses. I'm only happy to share. Be healthy and live well. :)

[@gerardoalmanza7477]

Our nature is so beautiful i could watch this kind of videos all day long😍

[@oldman7452]

The "Sea Flap Flap" meme pops in my head. Truly beautiful creatures. 2000 lbs going airborne is impressive.

[@EvonneLindiwe]

I like sea flap flaps 😆 I think of Sea Pancakes🥞 or Sea raviolis

[@tiedyemanatee9291]

This is the kind of music that should be played in nature docs. Not that curious playful music

[@soundknight]

Should be metal music, nature is METAL!

[@Paine137]

Also, choirs are wasted on religion.

[@antoinewilliams129]

@@soundknight 👉🏾🚪

[@cawiltu]

No man made music belongs in nature.

[@Paine137]

@@cawiltu We are Nature.

[@mid9trambler758]

Thats amazing, nature is beautiful we mustn't let her down with overfishing n polluted water's.

[@mzamroni]

Some people sees them as delicious food🙂

[@mid9trambler758]

@@mzamroni that's true... its been like that since man left the trees n desert, found a countless supply of food from the oceans n seas. I'm a fisherman n been down to Cabo, never got the chance to see thousands of manta ray's, though. That is a spectacular site to behold.

[@patticake4566]

From kaleidoscope views to synchronized dives. Fantastic footage!

[@MrJdebest]

Planet Earth, where everything is swimming, running or flying around eating smaller critters than themselves.

[@blueeyes6852]

Best comment on a nature show ... EVER! Lol! That was really an awesome comment! Lol! Stay well! 👍

[@JoeandAngie]

Eat, procreate, die. Every mammal, reptile, fish, bacteria, etc, including humans. The power of reason and the possession of a soul separates us from the animals.

[@yxx_chris_xxy]

Who trusted God was love indeed And love Creation's final law Tho' Nature, red in tooth and claw With ravine, shriek'd against his creed -- Tennyson.

[@kxmode]

“I’m as high as a kite” - Ray

[@goldentrout4811]

Each of those Eagle Rays weigh more than a ton?! They must be bigger than they seem here. Edit: I have been informed that these might not be Eagle Rays but Giant Oceanic Manta Rays. Edit 2: Some are saying these are Mobula Rays.

[@mikearmstrong8483]

Unfortunately, without anything else nearby to provide scale, this video doesn't convey the size of these critters. I've seen them; they are huge honkers!

[@tonyweaver2353]

@@mikearmstrong8483 Well he said they can launch 6 ft so when they reach the peak imagine a 6ft tall man between the ray and the water. Still a pretty crude comparison though...

[@brianstj3872]

They weigh max 500lbs I thought the same thing and looked it up

[@tonyweaver2353]

@@brianstj3872 Im looking it up right now and this narrator has his stuff all mixed up. Eagle rays have spots these dont, but they do breach. Giant Oceanic Manta Rays do breach as well and can weigh up to 3.6k pounds so pretty much a ton. What we see here are giant oceanic manta rays and not eagle rays, i believe.

[@deerene]

Eagle Rays are 16 feet in length, with a wingspan of 10 ft. on average.

[@poeweezy808]

Nature is so gorgeous.

[@Magnum-bh5no]

2:13 biggest belly-flops everrr 🤯

[@cynthiagonzales9131]

And this is a site to See!! In Cabo San Lucas out on the Sea of Cortez this was something I witnessed and was so beautiful to watch!!

[@janohare916]

Just wow!

[@Cletus_the_Elder]

What a stunningly beautiful sight.

[@aashafmo5505]

I always learn something from your channel

[@amrogers4]

I'm not even a quarter of their size (weight-wise) and they still get more air than I could ever dream of. Impressive!

[@dirkdiggler2430]

Just run faster.

[@thivankagamage5141]

Amazing footage and narrating. Also the music suits the stage.

[@khokiepokie]

Pretty sure thats a Mobula Ray. Awesome video!

[@francoisebeylie2923]

You are right !

[@MissMarinaCapri]

I would not want to be in a small boat when they came through

[@philgroves7694]

It's really pretty cool. I sat in my dinghy, in the midst of a school of these giants, hopping and flipping all around, I got wet, but that's all. They are gentle giants. And amazing aerial and aquatic acrobats!

[@MissMarinaCapri]

@@philgroves7694 , yeah it’s all really pretty cool until one lands in your dinghy and crushes you, yeah. 🍀 I’m really glad that didn’t happen to you

[@Iced_Viking]

Majestic sea flap flaps

[@obsoletevalues6209]

Finally! A thumbnail for a video that wasn't phony click bait!

[@jesseg6047]

Bellyflopping has never looked this good !

[@Hey_its_Koda]

Earth and her nature is awesome. I love learning new things. I never knew this happened.

[@wendygiera3987]

Eagle rays have a large long snout, these are Manta rays. Glorious!!

[@jmont8943]

They are not Mantas, they are Mobula rays. Smaller than Mantas, but they are in the same family.

[@jmont8943]

I don't know who writes/moderates this stuff, but they didn't do a very good job of getting their information straight. When this happens, they are misinforming people, and then those people look dumb when they pass that bad info along to others, especially when those others know it's bad info. Those are not Eagle rays, those are Mobula rays. Eagle rays have spots on their backs, and have a pointed nose. They also don't swim in huge schools like this, but will sometimes gather in groups of 10-20 at times.

[@sylvia106]

Nice information, thank you.

[@fredachildress3728]

I love the ocean and I would really love to see them up close, because to me, that is exactly why people need to protect them all.

[@alicelenn7579]

Same energy when i launch pancakes into the air just for fun :)

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Mantas are so beautiful and graceful swimming.

[@TheLastWalenta]

It is a bit of a surprise that the Smithsonian would get this wrong: those are not eagle rays. They are mobulas. And pretty clearly so.

[@lauraphillips6366]

God is good God is great thank you God for such wonderful, beautiful creatures

[@jsalinas118]

imagine being an explorer and seeing that for the first time. this world is great

[@TastemyAtrocity]

‘Mesmerizing’ is the only way I can describe this viewing experience.

[@MegaPW1]

What beautiful Eagle Stingray's. ❤️

[@purberri]

Nature is awesome

[@MohamedAli-ni2cm]

سبحان من خلق و ابدع سبحان الله العظيم ❤

[@dboogeman2002]

Ray's are learning to fly

[@thomasrobinson8789]

Smithsonian channel: “behold these giant eagle rays leaping!” The internet: “Those are manta rays you uncultured swine!”

[@solarnaut]

Another SAD DAY in the spiraling death of "The Information Age" when a once "Nobel Authority" like Smithsonian gets rightly pelted to death by keyboard warriors. B-)

[@jasonbrazen3732]

no no, these are mobula rays and some consider them a subfamily of the eagle rays (Myliobatidae), manta rays cephalic fins are bigger than that of these guys

[@yxx_chris_xxy]

@@jasonbrazen3732 Everything you say is right, but since 2017 mantas are also mobulas. White; Corrigan; Yang; Henderson; Bazinet; Swofford; Naylor (2017). "Phylogeny of the manta and devilrays (Chondrichthyes: mobulidae), with an updated taxonomic arrangement for the family". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 182: 50-75

[@jasonbrazen3732]

​@@yxx_chris_xxy Hey. Thanks for the info!! 🙂

[@thiawilliams9614]

Just gorgeous. ..thank you.

[@elizabethbecker394]

i am in complete awe of eagle rays! never knew they existed till just now; many thanks for the new knowledge.

[@Bolgernow]

Their jump is the "Tick Tock" attention getters of the sea. Awesome!

[@smetljesm2276]

One of the most impressive nature videos I've seen. Thank you

[@jacquesschrap8932]

Mantarays are amazing animals! When I was a kid on holiday on Florida roughly 12-13 years old A Manta Ray came up to me in the shallows and kept nudging me like it wanted something, eventually it scooped me up from underneath and legitimately took me for a ride on its back for about 5 mins while I held on to the beautiful creature. One of the greatest if not the greatest moment I've ever experienced in my life.

[@lanslarrazabaldemartinez6829]

I'm loving how TOM FORD himself is narrating 😮😮😮

[@justachipn3039]

Say What ??? Weighing over a "TON" ??? I had no idea these got over 2000lbs 😱

[@user-lg4zm5nj8t]

Wow. It's a really wonderful thing when you see and experience something you never seen before. I love learning something new every day. Thank you. But man... those things got Jump!!

[@oscarholley891]

An eagle ray saved my life I will always be grateful

[@aaronalexander7856]

I would like to hear this story as well

[@UNisOUTDATED]

Fantastic 👏 👏 👏

[@janelucas4987]

Wow its amazing! ..flying exhibition of water creatures....love this!

[@jong2367]

Longer than a human and a ton… they looked like they were 40 pounds and maybe 3 feet wide that’s insane

[@runnininthe80s84]

They can reach a size of about 16’X10’

[@markpaul8178]

Yes,I understand they can get huge in width and length,but weight a 1000 lbs,I don't know about that!

[@gloatsmitty4253]

@@markpaul8178 a ton isn't 1000 pounds.......

[@quetzalcoatlz]

@@gloatsmitty4253 yeah it's more 1 ton -2000lbs

[@markpaul8178]

@@gloatsmitty4253 Thankx Goat Beard Smitty for straighting that out.

[@Estoooopid]

A tonne!

[@HELLRZR-nm3vv]

🎶 Fly like an eagle...back in the sea.🎵 Fly like an eagle...let my wingspan carry me..🎶 Silly human, these Mobula are the butterflies of the ocean..♡

[@aftershock2222]

Simply Beautiful

[@goodluckybest3319]

Waauhhh....giant Eagles Rays : amazing . ❤

[@sergiollag1]

Eagle rays!? Do you mean Devil Rays!?

[@Malcolm-r2q]

To see this in real life would be amazing. I never even seen the ocean. What great video footage.

[@davidt3956]

I have it on mute so I don't have to listen to the pompous narration and music, but in what passes for my mind I've added a "wheee!" sound track every time one of them jumps.

[@leopardspotsmusic]

Incredible! Love this channel, thank you!

[@MrAlladz]

Gotta Catch Em All! They Can Fly And Surf! Water/Fly Type!

[@thudthud5423]

"I've seen the birds do it! I've seen the birds do it!"

[@christysmith3071]

They look so beautiful flying out of the water!

[@heatnicoleher]

So, if I do a belly flop, I can get a mate?? 💕

[@soflodoug]

Do you like to mate?

[@zainmudassir2964]

Sure!😊

[@CaneSugarCane]

Try it and report back with results 😅

[@yxx_chris_xxy]

I think the medium that you belly flop on matters. On water, no. On potential mates, maybe.

[@khaimeariver]

REST IN PEACE STEVE IRWin!

[@loliprotectionteam]

no, manta doesn't have sting

[@yknot000]

Steve was killed by sting ray much smaller but can be lethal if it gets you in the heart

[@kimberlypatton9634]

Incredibly beautiful!

[@Fadedecho1]

Very interesting. Ray's are definitely dangerous but also awesome. Wow. Pretty kool. Tysm ❤

[@noomwa]

Goodness, kudos to the person recording this for the world. Amazing.

[@tonyguevara8486]

The only Ones Who can Belly Flop Like A Pro 😂🤣💯

[@Seekingtruth-mx3ur]

Beautiful and majestic.

[@imcavdb5465]

So beautifull ♥️😍 Future new birdspecies.

[@dandaddavi]

Who needs the Smithsonian when you have the almighty KZbin comments section?

[@FATillery]

Ain't life grand? It ain't always perfect but, we should be glad to be here.

[@devynadair]

Ooof I teared up 🥹

[@samwhitty3036]

Rays are otherworldy 😍

[@faithcastillo9597]

Even though they named the wrong ray, it's still pretty spectacular.

[@skellingtonmeteoryballoon]

Lovely migration 💗

[@bla5102]

The like the belly flop... Auts.

[@philyip4432]

Thank you for such amazing cinematography!

[@mike.47]

Stunning, absolutely stunning.

[@simplyimpish1055]

Absolutely stunning and beautiful!

[@sanojgreen8874]

Life is so precious

[@philclip23]

Imagine having enough power in your body to make enormous leaps like that. Nature is fearsome.

[@Liondogge]

So beautiful, what a spectacle scene

[@claudesanchez3977]

Belle nature Joli film Douce et suave la voix Merveilleux animaux Merci 🙇

[@AniFam]

Such a wonderful scene~

[@TipOfAfrica0010]

The kings of belly flops...😍🤣

[@hillman2067]

That video was beautiful. The ocean ❤️

[@ackup]

This is when you know God makes amazing things all the time every time

[@baseball72]

Rays of most kinds r my favorite sea life. Amazing.

[@thomaskruger6468]

Das hätte ich wirklich nicht gedacht und erwartet das die Fische aus dem Wasser fliegen 👍🇩🇪❣🐟😁

[@dar8086]

Awesome creatures. Lets support these animals by not endangering them.

[@chuck3938]

There's a sci-fi novel I can't recall where the sharks begun the population with a siren call that is hypnotic. People sleepwalk off a cliff to their deaths.

[@charrski2918]

They look like athletic champs!

[@mikemoffitt8645]

Thank Y 😉 u for Beautiful Video post, Beautiful Photography & Aqudic Beautiful Subjects,

[@gladietorofspace]

the most beautiful thing I ever seen!

[@tomdavidson7866]

That shot of the Ray's under water ...looked like something out of a sci-fi movie...just incredible

[@brucebangeman8627]

My wife and I where there during this time, we where in kayaks and real close to them, the sound of hundreds hitting the water and making the slapping sound, it was awesome, very fortunate to have been there to see and hear, it went on for a very long time. Very cool.