Jumping Rays / Mobula mobular

 

 

 

Back in 1975 I spent a few weeks off the coast of Belize on Glover's Reef. It was a curious time of research, study and glorious diving in crystal clear waters. Those days were marked with many firsts: my first time catching hold of a passing whale shark and riding it for a while, my first time diving in the inky darkness of the sea throughout the watches of the nights, my first time to use a spear gun, fend off wild monkeys, eat conch and watch rays jump. 

Someday I'll write about that other stuff, but right now I'm focused on "why rays jump."

Whether it's Mantas 20 feet across (Manta birostriss) like those I saw jumping off shore near Glover's Reef, or Mobulas with disc-widths averaging 3 or 4 feet (Mobula mobular) like the one I recently photographed, no one really knows why they jump. But whatever prompts their glorious aerobatics, those who've seen them erupt from placid seas are surely blessed.

I've watched rays jump and I assume there's a reason - that being airborne serves some kind of purpose. Maybe it's an accident, and the veil between water and air is so thin they occasionally launch themselves by mistake. But I don't think so. 

Could it be to dislodge parasites? Does it serve as practice for gathering food? Is it some form of play? Are they exercising? How about this; could it be some form of cooperative hunting? Do they launch and land to create tricky vibrations that drive disturbance-wary mysids downward and into the open mouths of other Mobulas below?

Now one knows.

But it makes your heart skip a beat when, without warning, a Mobula soars up from below the surface and leaps out of the water, glistening in the light of dawn as a whip-like tail trails behind. A somersault or two, flap, flap, flap and then a belly-flop smack, it happens again and again. And nobody understands why.

So, dear Reader, you may be wondering, "What's that got to do with anything?"

Good question.

Let me tell you what's true about me. Remembering I can't even figure out the motivations of a stupid Mobula, helps me refrain from judging the motivations of people who behave in bizarre, confusing, apparently irrational ways. If I can't even understand what motivates rays to jump, maybe I shouldn't be too quick to think I know what "good" or "evil" incentivizes the curious behaviors of people around me. I may see what they did, but it's better if I don't imagine I know exactly why they did it. Only God can judge hidden intent and unseen motivation. I need to remember that.

Question:
What's better than making assumptions about others' motivations?

Answer:
Simply asking people why they did what they did, and caring enough to listen to their explanations.
 

Ecclesiastes 12:14  -  Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil.

Comments

[Tskellernsmith]

Awesome blog entry!