Reading and vocabulary. Mobula Ray

Launching itself six feet above the ocean’s surface, a fish called a mobula ray does a flip before plunging back into the water with a splash. The fish is traveling with about a hundred other rays that also jump, twirl, and belly flop as they move through the sea. These marine animals are expert acrobats. But their moves remain a mystery to scientists.

Mobula rays live in warm oceans throughout the world. These fish have a pair of winglike fins that can extend up to 17 feet. The fins help the rays rocket from the sea when they leap. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why all nine species of mobula rays do these jumps. But they think it may be to show off for a potential mate, get rid of parasites, or communicate.

Mobula rays are as good at          [swim, swimming] as they are at         [jump, jumping]. As they travel, they move their fins up and down          [to steer, steering] through the water. Even baby mobula rays, born at 25 pounds with their fins curled, are gifted gliders. The babies,        [called, call] pups, immediately unfold their fins and swim off.

Mobula rays tend to swim in         of a hundred or more fish, especially while feeding. These        animals snack on tiny fish and small sea           called zooplankton. They eat by scooping prey into their mouths with the floppy lobes that hang from either side of their       . When the rays find an area rich with      , they make sure to share the grub with the group. These jumping fish make us want to leap for joy!