FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND ADJACENT SEAS 483 



Genus MANTA Bancroft 



Manta Bancroft, Zool. Journ., vol. 4, p. 144, 1828-29. (Type, Ceplialopterus 



manta Bancroft, monotypic). 

 Ceratoptera MtiLLEK and Henle, Sitz. Ber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1837, p, 118. 



(Atypic; Arch. Naturg., 1837, p. 401.) (Type, Ccphalopterus giorna (not 



Laegpede) Lesueur, virtual orthotype.) 

 Brachioptilon Newman, Zoologist, vol. 7, p. 2396, 1849. (Type, Brachioptilon 



hamiltoni Newman, monotypic.) 

 DiaboUcthys Holmes, Proc. Elliott Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 1, p. 39, 1856. (Type, 



DiahoUcthys elUotti Holmes, monotypic). 

 Diabolichthys Marshall, Nomenclat. Zool., p. 72, 1877. (Type, DiaholicthyS; 



elliotti Holmes.) 

 Daemomanta Whitley, Rec. Austrailian Mus., vol. 18, No. 6, p. 327, 1932. 



(Type, Manta alfredl Stead, orthotypic.) 

 Desmomanta Fowlee, Mem. Bisbop Mus., vol. 11, No. 6, p. 386, 1934. (Type, 



Manta alfredi Stead.) (Error.) 

 Indomanta Whitlet, Australian Mus. Mag., vol. 6, p. 11, 1936. (Type, Iiv- 



domanta tomhazii WTiitley, orthotypic. ) 



Head greatly depressed, broad, flat, truncate. Rostrum short, 

 broad. Eyes prominent, lateral. Moutli large, very wide, straight, 

 anterior or terminal with narrow edges to jaws. Teeth present 

 only as lower dental plate, very small, close-set, numerous. 

 Internarial very wide. Gill openings wide. Skin rough with small 

 prickles. Rostral fins distinct from pectorals, directed or rolled 

 forward. Small dorsal between ventrals. Tail slender, whiplike, 

 without serrated spine on caudal. Pectorals form wide disk, greatly 

 wider than long, outer angles acute. 



Giant rays of tropical seas and though several species have been 

 described perhaps referable to one or two species. Fossil fragments 

 also have been referred to the genus. 



MANTA BIROSTRIS (Walbanm) 



Raja birostris Walbaum, Artedi Pise, vol. 3, p. 535, 1792 (on Blalolus 

 marinus Willoughby, Hist. Pise. Append., p. 5, pi. 9, fig. 3, 1686; no type 

 locality). — Divel Pennant, Arctic zoology, vol. 2, pt. 4, p. 354, 1792, copied. — 

 Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina, Append., p. 32, 1771 (type locality: Carolina). 



Manta birostris Fowler. Oce. Pap. Bishop Mus., vol. 8, No. 7, p. 375, 1923 

 (Honolulu) ; Bishop Mus., Bull. 28, p. 4, pi. 1, figs, d-g, 1927 (Fanning 

 Islands) ; Mem. Bishop Mus., vol. 10, p. 26, 1928 (Honolulu, off Oahu) ; 

 Proc. 4th (1929) Pacific Sci. Cougr., Java, p. 508, 1930 (Fanning and 

 Hawaiian Islands) ; Mem. Bishop Mus., vol. 11, No. 5, p. 314, 1931 (on 

 Ogilby's New Hebrides Ceratoptera). — Herre, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Publ. 

 353, zool. ser. vol. 21, p. 25, 1936 (Cocos Island; Galapagos).— Whitley, 

 Australian Zool., vol. 8, pt. 3, p. 179, 1936 (compiled). 



Raja hanksiana Lac^pIide, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 2, p. 105, pi. 5, fig. 3, 180O (type 

 locality: East Indies). 



Mantaf banksiana Whitley, Australian Zool., vol. 8, pt. 3, p. 180, 1936 (com- 

 piled; Nauru and Solomons). 



Rata fimbriata Lac6p£de, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 4, pp. 671, 677, pi. 16, fig. 3, 1802 

 (type locality: North Atlantic Ocean). 



