Massive Tropical Animal Just Spotted in New York Waters

In what the New York State of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) is calling a rare sighting, an animal that can grow up to a staggering 4,000 pounds was recently spotted off the coast of New York State.

There's all types of natural wonders to discover in the Empire State. From the creepy (and potentially painful) hellgrammite to literal seahorses, there are plenty of creatures to make you stop and stare. None may be as majestic, however, as what was recently spotted last week.

Seasons Changing in New York State

While New York might be bracing for the autumn (most stores in the Hudson Valley started bringing out Halloween decorations the day after Labor Day), there was recently an interesting sign that it's still summer off of the coast of Long Island.

Manta Ray Spotted in New York State

"You ray-ly have to check out what was spotted off the coast of Long Island!" came the pun from the NYS DEC's official Facebook page on Monday September 16th (below). The animal in question, a manta ray, was a long way from its usual home in tropical waters.

Manta Rays vs. Stingrays in New York

Manta rays are one of the ocean's largest creatures and can measure up to 25 feet in width with a weight of up to 4,000 pounds. Unlike stingrays, manta rays don't have a barb on their tails, although large stingrays have also been documented in the waters off Long Island, NY.

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While the manta ray sighting was rare, the NYS DEC shared that the sight wasn't impossible. These amazing creatures spend most of their time in tropical climates, but warm summer months can occasionally entice manta rays as far north as New York. Check out more helpful info from the NYS DEC below.