Scientists filmed the creature swimming in the Eastern Pacific, near Costa Rica.
A pregnant reef manta ray has been spotted for the first time at the remote Cocos Island near Costa Rica, some 6,000km from its normal home.
The threatened species, which can grow up to five metres in length, usually lives in coastal waters, prompting scientists to question how this pregnant fish had come to roam so far across the open ocean.
Footage recorded by the Marine Megafauna Foundation in September shows the ray cruising through the ocean while visibly carrying its young.
Randall Arauz, of marine research and conservation organisation Fins Attached, said: “Reef mantas may travel several hundred kilometres, although they tend not to travel too far offshore.
“It is unclear how this individual could have steered so far off course, leading us to assume it was not intentional.”
The pregnant ray was found to be three-and-a-half metres long, or slightly smaller than a car.
It was fitted with an acoustic tag to track its movements and recordings have so far indicated it has stayed in the area.
Manta rays only give birth every two to five years and no-one has ever seen them give birth in the wild. Scientists will continue to monitor the manta ray’s movements to make sure it is not in harm’s way.
Dr Andrea Marshall, co-founder and principal scientist at the Marine Megafauna Foundation said: “I have been studying mantas for 16 years and they still constantly surprise me.
“This extraordinary sighting challenges everything we currently know about the migratory behaviour of this species and its ability to undertake long-distance movements across open ocean environments.”
The study, co-authored by scientists from the Marine Megafauna Foundation, Fins Attached, Pelagios Kakunja in Mexico, and CREMA (Centro Rescate Especies Marinas Amenazadas) in Costa Rica, was published in the journal Marine Biodiversity Records on March 20 2019.
VANCOVUER, British Columbia (AP) — Cole Smith's goal midway through the third period proved to be the winner as the Vegas Golden Knights held on to beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Max Sasson opened the scoring for the Canucks (22-47-8) with a wrist shot over the glove of Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart at the 12:50 mark of the second period. It was his 13th goal of the season.
Brayden McNabb replied for Vegas (36-26-16) less than three minutes later, sending a shot through traffic to tie the score at 1. Smith scored the go-ahead goal 12:13 into the third.
Vancouver had a prime chance to force extra time when Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson was called for interference with less than two minutes left. The Canucks pulled goalie Nikita Tolopilo in favor of an extra attacker, but failed to score.
Hart stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced for the Golden Knights. Tolopilo made 26 saves for the Canucks.
Vegas extended its winning streak to four games under new head coach John Tortorella, who took over behind the bench March 31.
The Golden Knights swept the three-game season series between the teams after winning 5-2 on Feb. 4 and 4-2 on March 30 in Vegas.
Golden Knights: Visit Seattle on Thursday.
Canucks: Start a three-game road trip at Los Angeles on Thursday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Vegas Golden Knights' Cole Smith (22) celebrates his goal as he skates past the Vancouver Canucks bench during the third period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart (79) makes a save as Vancouver Canucks' Aatu Raty (54) watches the puck go wide of the net during the third period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Zeev Buium (24) skates with the puck away from Vegas Golden Knights' Mitch Marner (93) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel (9) puts a shot wide of the net behind Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) while being checked by Victor Mancini (90) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
