Scientist Identifies New Manta Ray Species—the Atlantic Manta Ray, Mobula yarae—in a groundbreaking announcement from Dr. Andrea Marshall and her team at the Marine Megafauna Foundation. In this episode, Andrew Lewin shares the story of how Dr. Marshall, already renowned for identifying two distinct manta species in 2009, confirmed a long-suspected third species after years of meticulous observation, genetic analysis, and global collaboration.

Listen to this remarkable story of how this new species was first spotted off the Yucatán Peninsula, how it differs from other mantas, and why its recognition is a crucial win for marine conservation. Andrew also reflects on the significance of species discovery for protecting vulnerable marine life and the importance of scientific persistence in the face of challenges.

Chapter:

00:00 – Two big announcements from Andrew
00:25 – The discovery of a new manta ray species
01:05 – Meet Dr. Andrea Marshall and her work on mantas
02:00 – How the Atlantic Manta Ray was first suspected
03:10 – Distinguishing features of Mobula yarae
04:05 – The 15-year journey from suspicion to confirmation
05:00 – Importance of mapping species for conservation
06:05 – The global collaboration that made it possible
07:10 – Why species identification matters for protection
08:05 – Final thoughts and celebration of the discovery

Link to Article: https://marinemegafauna.org/news/third-manta-ray-species-mobula-yarae-discovered-in-atlantic-ocean

#OceanConservation #MarineBiology #SaveOurOceans #ProtectTheOcean #OceanAwareness #BluePlanet #ConservationMatters #ScienceForChange #SustainableOceans #marinenews
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