Monstrous Manta Ray, 1933
In 1933, a New York-based silk manufacturer by the name of A.L. Kahn was caught a massive manta ray off the New Jersey coast when rumor has it that the anchor line of his boat got caught in the giant ray. After hours of struggling, he was able to bring the large “devil fish” to shore. Although the image shows a taxidermy version of the ray, Kahn really did catch one.
The giant ray is the largest of its type and they are usually found in tropical and subtropical waters, and on occasion, temperate waters around the world. Although many make them out to be sea monsters, mantas are gentle creatures that feed off plankton – microscopic organisms that float in the ocean’s water – by scooping them into their mouths by the thousands.