MANTA RAY, GIANT (sp. Manta birostris)
Also called a Devil Ray, they grow 25 feet wide
and have been gliding through the oceans for over
a 150 million years. The have no bones; they
weigh 20 lbs. when they’re born. When they’re
full-grown they can weigh over 2 & 1/2 tons, and
the Mocha people of ancient Peru considered
them gods. What more could you ask from a living fossil?
MEGAXANTHO CRAB FOSSIL
A huge crab fossil found in the State of
Chiapas, Mexico in 2008, making Megaxantho a very likely, once upon a time,
Rockport resident. Notice the specialized
‘tooth’ on the upper claw.
The age of this giant crab fossil (larger
than your ordinary Late Cretaceous crab)
has been estimated between 67 and 69
million years.
LORE: Your really ancient sharks, like this 370
million year old Cladoselache, have mouths in
front of their heads. Modern sharks have mouths
below their heads.
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