Xiang Yang nodded, "It is indeed possible."
However, scientists still don't understand why the pink manta ray in Australia's Great Barrier Reef can live in the sea for so long.
According to scientists' estimates, the pink manta ray in Australian waters is at least ten years old.
The fact that it can live so freely in the sea with such bright colors actually proves from the side how powerful the pink manta ray is. Ordinary marine creatures simply cannot kill it and eat it.
Manta rays do have some fighting power. They are extremely powerful, and most sharks of the same size are no match for manta rays.
"But compared to the fact that there is a population of manta rays that are naturally pink, I am more inclined to believe that the pink manta rays are actually the result of disease," said Xiang Yang.
Scientists have taken samples of the skin of the pink manta ray near the Australian waters several times for analysis. The results show that its pink color comes from a natural genetic mutation, similar to changes such as albinism and melanin deposition, which can be called red mutation.
Since the animals of the same species living with it have normal colors, we can rule out the possibility that it turned red due to skin disease or pigmentation in the food.
It can also be basically ruled out that it is a completely new species of manta ray.
Similar red changes to these two pink manta rays have also occurred in land animals.
A few years ago, scientists discovered leopards in some areas with pink patterns on their bodies due to lack of melanin. They are real pink leopards, and their pink patterns can be passed on to the next generation, but their numbers are very rare, so many people don't know about it.
Although the pink manta ray looks very special in human eyes, in the eyes of other manta rays, the pink appearance does not look very noble.
This can be concluded from the fact that when humans first discovered the pink manta ray, it was competing with its six companions for a female manta ray.
If the pink manta ray is also special in the eyes of other manta rays, why would the pink manta ray have to compete with six other manta rays for a girlfriend? Shouldn't it be six female manta rays competing for it? ...
"Damn, this manta ray is really greedy. It's already this late and it's still eating." Fang Youqun suddenly exclaimed.
Xiang Yang looked towards the manta ray, and sure enough, he saw its mouth opening and closing, constantly swallowing the various sea fish covering its body.
"This manta ray is interesting. It is still thinking about food at this time. It seems that it thinks we will not hurt it." Xiang Yang said with a smile.
Although eating is the nature of many animals, especially those untamed wild beasts.
But generally speaking, any animal with a little bit of intelligence will stop eating when it encounters danger.
Like wild cats, stray dogs, and even wild wolves, when they are eating, if someone or other creature approaches, they will stop eating immediately and observe or drive away the intruder.
Only a big, stupid guy like a shark would put eclipse first no matter what the circumstances.
When a great white shark is eating, it will never give up the prey in its mouth even if someone hits it on the head with a stick.
This is actually related to the brain capacity of these animals.
Although manta rays are cartilaginous fish, their IQ is not low at all. They are much smarter than their relatives, sharks.
As for sharks, especially great white sharks, they are notoriously big and stupid creatures in the ocean. The brains of sharks are often compared with those of dolphins by biologists and scientists. In particular, there is a world-famous painting that puts a shark's brain and a dolphin's brain together. The painter is simply full of malice towards sharks.
"Although the manta ray is a cartilaginous fish, its brain is well developed. It has the largest brain among fish and its IQ is not low. It can recognize different humans it has met and even recognize its own image in the mirror. This manta ray saw that we have not hurt it for so long, so maybe in its subconscious judgment, we are good people who will not hurt it and invite it to dinner." Xiang Yang said with a smile.
The mirror test is the most commonly used way to test animal intelligence. The specific operation is to put an animal in front of a mirror to see whether the animal can realize that the image on the opposite side of the mirror is itself, not another animal. This test can help humans quickly judge the IQ level of an animal.
As he said that, Xiang Yang walked towards the manta ray and tried to squat down.
Chen Qingsheng behind him quickly grabbed Xiang Yang.
"Captain, this is a manta ray, and it's an adult manta ray." Chen Qingsheng said anxiously.
Xiang Yang understood that Chen Qingsheng's potential was that this manta ray could kill a person with just one slap as long as it exerted its strength.
"Don't worry, manta rays actually have a very good temper most of the time, especially towards humans. They are extremely dependent and friendly. As long as no one takes the initiative to provoke it, it will not go crazy." Xiang Yang said.
Manta rays are indeed extremely friendly and dependent on humans.
Whenever a manta ray is accidentally entangled in fishing lines, fishing nets or garbage, it will search for divers on the seabed and then swim to the divers for help.
During the rescue process, manta rays will be quite cooperative.
Even if there are no difficulties, manta rays will often swim quickly to the diver's side, then slow down and linger around the diver, or simply play with the diver.
As Xiang Yang spoke, he gently touched the fin of the pink manta ray.
When you first start to use it, it feels cold and rough.
When the pink manta ray saw Xiang Yang coming, it immediately stopped eating, and began to wave its fins happily, even its entire body swaying like a swaying pink flower.
"See, I told you that this manta ray wouldn't attack me." Xiang Yang grinned.
Xiang Yang dared to run to the side of the manta ray at this time, and he actually had some basis and reliance in his heart.
In nature, manta rays are marine animals that are like curious babies. They often interact with divers they meet. There are even marine experts who say that they have taught a manta ray some simple gestures, and using these gestures, the manta ray can communicate with humans in a simple way.
When Chen Qingsheng saw that the manta ray did not attack Xiang Yang, he finally felt relieved.
"Captain, what should we do with this manta ray now? Should we release it directly back into the sea or bring it back?" Chen Qingsheng asked.