Yet these behemoths’ most puzzling feature is a whip-like tail that can measure as long as the rest of the fish’s body. Why mantas and related rays have such long tails has long been a mystery.

But Portie Town, the crisscross of streets lined with low-slung homes on the north side of Sulphur where she lives, seems to have gained little for its proximity to these engines of wealth.

Her expertise is in personal finance and investing, and real estate. Investopedia / Theresa Chiechi The long tail is a business strategy that allows companies to realize significant profits by ...