Why do manta rays gather at cleaning stations?

Manta rays often return to the same cleaning stations, where cleaner fish and shrimp pick parasites and dead tissue from their skin and gills. These stations can become social hubs where multiple mantas visit in succession. The interaction benefits the rays by improving hygiene and likely reducing infection risk, while the cleaners get a steady meal. Because mantas are large and slow enough to tolerate the process, they can remain still while the cleaners work. Scientists use these stations to study manta behavior, movement, and population structure.