How did this rare pink manta get its color?
Companies, agencies, institutions, etc
National Geographic Society
National Geographic Partners
LLC
Australiaâs
malfunctioning.âI
â
Project Manta
Project Mantaâs
hueâit
Louisianaâs Nicholls State University
Manta Trust
shouldnât
People
2020Photographer Kristian Laine
Clouseau
Elliot Island
â
Amelia Armstrong
Asia Haines
Solomon David
Stevens
Groups
Australian
Physical locations
Great Barrier Reef
Places
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Locations
Elliot Island
Instagram
misconceptions.)Scientists
U.K
Events
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Summary
But in 2016, Project Manta researcher Amelia Armstrong took a small skin biopsy from the famous animal, and their resulting analyses ruled out diet and infection as the cause.Now, Project Mantaâs leading theory is that the manta has a genetic mutation in its expression of melanin, or pigment, says Asia Haines, a research assistant for the group.And the ray is not just a cool-looking animalâit could contribute to science, she adds by email. (Go inside the underwater world of manta rays with a National Geographic photographer.)Guy Stevens, CEO and co-founder of the U.K.-based Manta Trust, agrees that erythrism is the most plausible explanation.Reef mantas typically come in three color patterns: All-black, all-white, or black-and-white.
As said here by Bethany Augliere