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Manta rays are believed to be among the most intelligent creatures in the ocean, and they have several traits and research to support this claim.

The large fish belong to the order known as the Myliobatiformes, which includes rays and other similar species, and is a group closely related to the shark group and is characterized by their cartilaginous bodies.

Further classification of majestic marine animals refers them to the family Myliobatidae (eagle rays).

There are two scales for estimating intelligence in different species: brain mass and brain size in relation to the body of the animal.

Manta rays certainly do well with the former, as they have the largest brains of any fish.

But many other animals with the same body size have smaller brains and survive just fine.

What distinguishes manta rays, as well as animals such as humans and elephants, is that the brain is very large compared to the body.

This means that the animal has invested heavily in the power of its brain in the course of its evolution, indicating a clear advantage of higher intelligence and concerted efforts to improve its abilities.

Many researchers believe, and previous research has shown, that they are able to recognize others and perhaps even themselves, and have near-mammalian intelligence—much more advanced than normal fish.

Self-knowledge is the elite test of intelligence, and mirror tests have only proven that great apes and bottlenose dolphins have this ability.

It is believed that manti too, because when they are shown a mirror, they behave unusually, often repeating movements – similar to how a person “beautifies”.

This is not how manta rays react when they encounter another animal, and implies that it is aware of its own reflection, scientists say.

This intelligence manifests itself in nature in the form of mantas, who often go out of their way to explore things out of curiosity.

It is also believed that there are areas in their large brains that are known to play a role in higher functions such as intelligence, vision, and motor coordination.

In addition, manta rays are known to repeatedly visit the same feeding grounds or so-called “cleaning stations” on coral reefs, where cleaner fish feed on any parasitic organisms attached to the manta rays.

This behavior has led the researchers to conclude that manta rays are able to create cognitive maps of their surroundings to help them return to these preferred locations.

They are also known to be highly curious animals and often initiate play behavior with human divers, a phenomenon otherwise only really seen to this extent in intelligent social marine mammals such as dolphins and whales.

Divers also report that manta rays actively ask for help when they get tangled in ropes or are injured, rather than startled, which is more common in vulnerable animals.

Although few manta rays are kept in captivity due to their size, marine experts at the SEA Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa say the rays are able to recognize gestures such as double tapping on the head.