have fossils of them been found?
Only three sedimentary beds bearing manta ray fossils are known, one from the Oligocene in South Carolina and two from the Miocene and Pliocene in North Carolina.
Manta ray
Only three sedimentary beds bearing manta ray fossils are known, one from the Oligocene in South Carolina and two from the Miocene and Pliocene in North Carolina.
do manta rays have barbs on their tails UNANSWERABLE what is this animal? These are large rays belonging to the genus "Mobula". where can it be found? They are found in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters. which species is it? "Manta birostris" can they be found in captivity as well? Rarely: a few are "Nandi" (uShaka Marine World); "Zeus" (The Atlantis resort); and those in the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. how does it look? Broad heads, triangular pectoral fins, and horn-shaped cephalic fins located on either side of their mouths, tails lack skeletal support and are shorter than their disc-like bodies, typically black or dark in color with pale markings on their "shoulders". from where does it get its name? From Portuguese and Spanish for mantle (cloak or blanket).
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Manta ray [SEP] Fossil record
While some small teeth have been found, few fossilized skeletons of manta rays have been discovered. Their cartilaginous skeletons do not preserve well, as they lack the calcification of the bony fish. Only three sedimentary beds bearing manta ray fossils are known, one from the Oligocene in South Carolina and two from the Miocene and Pliocene in North Carolina. Remains of an extinct species have been found in the Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina. These were originally described as "Manta fragilis", but were later reclassified as "Paramobula fragilis".