Jumping Devil Rays Surprise Boaters in Sarasota Waters

Jumping Jupiter!

Dozens of devil rays – which are smaller versions of manta rays – were captured on videos leaping from the waters off Longboat Key.

Did the cold waters drive them to leap into the air like stunt fish? Was this part of some bizarre mating ritual? Are they celebrating the start of baseball season for their namesake Tampa Bay Rays, on April 2?

Take a gander for yourself. Two YouTube videos uploaded this week show the leaping devil rays.

The Sarasota Herald Tribune contacted scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory who said the behavior acutally is quite normal for the devil rays.

But their appearance in Sarasota County waters used to be rare. There have been an increasing number of sightings since August 2012.

According to the Herald Tribune article, the Mote laboratory responded: "It is not clear from videos online why those rays are jumping, but they are definitely devil rays (Mobula hypostoma), and jumping is a behavior Mote staff have seen in devil rays in the past."

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