The oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) is a ray species in the Mobulidae family and one of the largest ray species, with a wingspan of up to 7 meters (23 feet). They can be found in tropical and subtropical waters all over the world, and they prefer the open ocean to the coast. They are a harmless species that feeds primarily on zooplankton. However, their populations are declining in many areas due to overfishing and hunting for their gill plates, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The IUCN has listed them as endangered.