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Why do manta rays mainly take in water through their mouths?
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chondrichthyan
Southern stingrays (Dasyatis americana or Hypanus americanus) are found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Manta rays primarily take in water through their mouths for respiration because they possess relatively small spiracles compared to other rays. While most rays typically utilize their spiracles to intake water for breathing, the manta ray lives near the water's surface and relies on its mouth to facilitate the necessary exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide across its gills.1