Rare Manta Ray Washes Up In Massachusetts

August 13, 2007

Release from: CBS

SALEM, Mass.- A giant manta ray was spotted floating in Salem, Mass. harbor Sunday evening.

Due to the creature's immense weight, six men were needed to lift the ray up onto the dock.

"This is a huge ray. It's wing span is 11-feet from tip to tip, it's 7-feet, 8-inches long, and weighs about 500-to-600 pounds," said Tony LaCasse of the New England Aquarium.

This type of ray is harmless as it eats mainly plankton and small fish, but it's unclear how the manta ray died.

"Obviously the animal was not well," said LaCasse. "There's no obvious trauma."

This type of ray can be found anywhere from Brazil all the way up the East coast, but it normally likes more tropical waters. They are also found at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

State Environmental police planned to dispose of the carcass in deeper waters.