Sanctuary Research Coordinator, Emma Hickerson, videos a juvenile male manta ray (Manta birostris) at one of the Flower Garden Banks. Texas A&M Marine Ecologist, Jeff Childs, has been studying the mantas (and other elasmobranchs) at the Flower Gardens since 1994. He has documented over 35 individual manta rays by using distinguishing their markings on the underside of the animals. He has been able to collect sighting data and put it together to study the habitat use of the sanctuary by these majestic creatures. (photo: Kaile Tsapis)