ATLANTA (July 23, 2025) – In a remarkable milestone for marine science, a new, third species of manta ray – Mobula yarae – has been discovered, and officially recognized by science, and Georgia Aquarium played a key role in the discovery.

For more than a decade, scientists suspected that a mysterious group of manta rays swimming in the Atlantic Ocean didn’t quite match the two known species. Now, thanks to a collaborative global research effort and data gathered from animals cared for at Georgia Aquarium, Mobula yarae has been officially recognized as its own species.

“This discovery is a powerful reminder of how much we still have to learn about the ocean,” said Dr. Cameron Perry, a co-author of the paper and Research Scientist at Georgia Aquarium. “Sometimes, what seems like a small detail can lead to big revelations. These kinds of breakthroughs are only possible when we’re curious enough to look more closely.”

Two manta rays at Georgia Aquarium, Tallulah and Blue, were part of that closer look. Morphological data and imagery from these animals helped define the physical characteristics of Mobula yarae, and Aquarium scientists also contributed to broader genetic and anatomical analyses that confirmed the species’ distinct identity.

The newly described species gets its name from Yara, a mythical water spirit in Brazilian folklore known as the “mother of the waters.” It’s a fitting tribute since Mobula yarae have been observed throughout the Atlantic Ocean, from Brazil to the southeastern United States, favoring both coastal and open-ocean environments.

Like other members of the mobulidae family, Mobula yarae faces growing threats from entanglement, bycatch, pollution, and habitat degradation. As one of the world’s largest public aquariums, and home to several individual animals now identified as this species, Georgia Aquarium is uniquely positioned to contribute to its protection through research, education, and conservation.

“The individual animals living at the Aquarium are ambassadors for their wild counterparts,” said Dr. Lisa Hoopes, a co-author of the paper and Senior Director of Research and Conservation at Georgia Aquarium. “This is a vivid example of how aquarium-based research can support science that drives global understanding and conservation of vulnerable species.”

The study was published in the journal Environmental Biology of Fishes and contributes to a growing body of evidence that ocean biodiversity is far from fully documented. In a rapidly changing world, each discovery brings new urgency and new hope for understanding and protecting marine life, one species at a time.

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