THE ONLY PINK MANTA RAY IN THE WORLD
Nothing quite prepared us for the sight of a pink manta ray, even though we've seen everything from spotted zebras to lobsters the colour of cotton candy. The world saw the rare animal, which has only been seen seven times since it was first discovered in 2015, thanks to photographer Kristian Laine's photos. The Great Barrier Reef surrounds Australia's Lady Elliot Island, which is home to the eleven-foot-tall male manta ray. Even though Project Manta, a research team that focuses on the ecology and biology of Australia's manta rays, has studied him in great detail, Laine's amazing photos have contributed to the animal's viral success.
The manta ray, who goes by Inspector Clouseau in homage to The Pink Panther, is so strange that Laine initially thought he was experiencing a camera malfunction. He said, "I was confused and thought my strobes were broken or doing something weird because I had no idea there were pink mantas in the world." But there was no such error, and Inspector Clouseau is unique due to his vivid pink colour.
In 2016, Project Manta performed a skin biopsy in an attempt to gain additional insight into his colouration. As a result, they were able to rule out diet or illness as reasons for his unusual colour. It is now thought by scientists that a genetic mutation causing the manta ray to express melanin differently is the cause of its pink skin. This is most likely erythrism, a condition that causes an animal's pigmentation to express as either pink or red. Scientists may eventually be able to learn more about the evolution of manta ray colouration by comprehending this mutation.
Manta rays are usually all black, all white, or black with a white belly, to put things in perspective. Although these kinds of genetic mutations can occasionally make an animal more susceptible to predators, experts think that Inspector Clouseau's size is the reason he isn't having any problems. Considering that adults of this largest of all rays can weigh up to nearly 3,000 pounds, it makes sense that he has little problem taking care of himself.
Unbeknownst to him, Inspector Clouseau's distinctive colouring has made him a virtual celebrity. Laine is among the select few who have witnessed the beauty of the pink manta ray up close; for him, it is an experience of a lifetime. "I feel incredibly fortunate and humbled," Laine said to National Geographic.