Aerial Manta Rays
Under the full moon's light
and over the river wide,
a gentle beast quietly feeds.
So surprised, awe-struck to see him,
what mysteries yet remain in the dark?
Upon the rivers doth these grand beings take flight, their forms akin to the elegant dance of a feathered sprite. They, in silent splendor, flit, glide, and swoop amidst the heavens, revealing their presence solely after the sun's descent and until the dawn's gentle embrace.
Their grace belies their stature, for they are but gentle giants, their massive frames embodying a tranquil essence. Yet, beware, for when roused by peril's call, their power knows no bounds, bringing forth immense calamity. This breed, rare and wondrous, adorns a hide of unbroken hue, their tails short and sturdy, their heads rounded in form, and their wings, like bubbles, round and plump as they bear them through the celestial abode.
Organism of Unknown Origin #1
Scientific Name: Noctobula, N. [species]
Other Names: Skyflap, Ohio River Flying Fish, Aerial Manta Ray, Flying Ray, Flap-Flap
Species: Shortfin Flying Ray, Paddleboat Flying Ray, Bedeviled Flying Ray, Thorned Flying Ray
Evolutionary Kind: Skyflap
Diet: Insectivore
Reproduction: Fragmentation
Conservation: Unknown
BASIC DESCRIPTION
The Aerial Manta Ray is an extraterrestrial creature that resembles the Earthly Manta Ray. A visitor on the planet, these animals fly over water and eat insects, resting before continuing their journey. Only active at night, their shadowy forms are seen shooting across the sky like a flicked rubber band. Large and triangular, the sight of a Flying Ray strikes fear into those that see them below; because of their sharp silhouette and sometimes pointed tail, they are occasionally associated with evil or daemonic activity.
READ ABOUT FLYING RAYS IN THE JOURNAL
Contents
3.2 Species
3.2.1 Thorned Flying Ray
3.2.2 Paddleboat Flying Ray
3.2.3 Shortfin Flying Ray
3.2.4 Bedeviled Flying Ray
4 Behavior
4.1 Diet & Feeding
4.2 Nighttime Displays
5 Biology
5.1 Life Cycle
5.1.1 Reproduction
5.1.2 Physical Growth & Development
ENCOUNTERS
Winter circa 1980 - around 10 pm - Maysville, KY
Summer 1999 - nighttime - Lawrenceburg, IN
November 2000 - nighttime - Neville, OH
January 2002 - nighttime - outside Cincinnati, OH
Summer 2008 - around 9 pm - Portsmouth, OH
August 2008 - nighttime - Vanceburg, KY
March 2009 - nighttime - Midland, PA
September 2012 - 8 pm - Reedsville, OH
August 2013 - nighttime - Geneva, KY
August 2013 - near midnight - Mt Vernon Road, KY
mid-August 2013 - around 9 pm - New Haven, IL
Summer 2016 - around 10:30 pm - Point Pleasant, WV
early June 2019 - around 10 pm - Ripley, OH
September 25, 2020 - 9 pm - Lakin, WV
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT
The origin of these animals is unknown. Incapable of inter-species communication, the comings and goings of Flying Rays can only be inferred.
American States Observed Within: Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois
On Earth, however, Aerial Manta Rays remain attached to only one geographical location: the Ohio River. They typically avoid light, especially bright cities; yet they can be spotted on the fringe of residential or commercial areas.
DESCRIPTIONS
Difficult to spot and view (as they are nocturnal, light-avoiding creatures), descriptions of these animals vary. Across all species, they are regarded as having a smooth, plump body that is larger than a standard, 21st century car. The tone of the creature is lighter on top and darker on the bottom. Flying Rays have a short tail and flat, triangular wings that connect seamlessly to the body—which is without feathers or hair.
EVOLUTIONARY KIND
Skyflaps are an extraterrestrial categorization covering any alien organism described as being flat-bodied, diamond or triangular shaped, wide-mouthed, and having a 'flinging band' flight method. They are often reported as "manta rays in the sky" and are observed over sources of water.
SPECIES
Skyflaps are categorized based on their shape and hide coloration/pattern.
Thorned Flying Ray [N. spina]
The smallest of their kind, Thorned Rays grow no larger than 15 ft from wingtip to wingtip. The have been documented in a variety of colors: light gray, tan, brown, umber, tawny, and taupe. On their bellies reside wavy, horizontal stripes of a darker hue and two fin-like flaps of skin. These 'fins' can be stretched to slow down, steer, or make a landing.
Thorned Rays can be easily identified not only by their hide, but their tail shape. This species has a short, stubby, straight tail that is wider at the base than any other Skyflap; the tail darkens in color the further away from the body it is. A third identifying characteristic is its spine. Thorned Rays have a line of small, round, bony protrusions that halve the creature from nose to tail tip; the hide above the spine is a duller, lighter color, forming a single, subtle, vertical stripe.
Paddleboat Flying Ray [N. paxillum]
The largest of the Flying Rays, Paddleboats have two wavy, semi-circle fins connected to the middle of a slightly 'U'-curved tail; this addition helps the larger animal slow down, change direction, or make a landing when stretched. Aside from their tail shape, this species can be easily identified by its hide, which is spotted or speckled and gray or gray-blue. Paddleboats are 21 ft long on average; the largest documented was 23 ft long and 3,300 lbs.
Shortfin Flying Ray [N. pisciculus]
Shortfin Flying Rays are less angular in shape and more rounded, bubbly. This species grows no longer than 16 ft and displays a banded pattern on its hide. Composed of blocky, horizontal bars of differing length, Shortfins display hues of pale gold, beige, and muted copper; the darkest of these tones make up the bands across their belly. Similar to Paddleboats, Shortfins have a finned tail; instead of in the middle of the tail, however, the Shortfin's stretchy fins extend from the middle to the tail-tip. A larger section of hide, the skin causes the creature's tail to appear diamond shaped. The Shortfin's specialized tail can assist in speeding up or slowing down, changing direction, performing loops, and landing.
Shortfins can be identified based on one other characteristic: their eyes. The largest of all Skyflaps, Shortfins have bulging, marble-sized eyes near the mouth and halfway down the belly (the lowest positioning of Flying Ray secondary eyes).
Bedeviled Flying Ray [N. malum]
Bedeviled Flying Rays are very similar in shape, size, and color to Thorned Flying Rays. They are, however, slightly larger (growing up to 17 ft in length), have longer, thinner tails, and a spotted hide. Bedeviled Flying Rays have been documented in a variety of colors: light gray, dark gray, tan, brown, umber, tawny, walnut, and taupe. The spotted pattern on the bellies of this species is consistent across all individuals; spots are evenly spread out and of a similar size, making a uniform pattern.
Unlike Thorned Rays, these Flying Rays do not have pronounced, boney spines that split their form in half, but a deep, smooth depression. Additionally, they are the only Skyflap species without fins; while they are the fastest Skyflap species, these animals cannot fly as agilely, make fast/tight turns, or make unanticipated maneuvers. The tail of this species is slanted on each half; while not as effective as other species' fins, the triangular tail provides assistance in making turns.
Bedeviled Flying Rays are named for their more sinister appearance.
BEHAVIOR
Aerial Manta Rays only appear over the Ohio River at night. Silently, without theatrics, they phase into the atmosphere suddenly. Above the water and its banks, they flit through the air to filter feed. Before sunrise, they disappear as quickly and soundlessly as they arrived. The extraterrestrial creatures do little else with their visits to Earth.
FLIGHT
Aerial Manta Rays traverse the skies via a flight method known as 'rubber banding.' When taking off from the ground or a perch, they stretch their triangular wings outward and forward as far as possible; tightly expanded, the sudden release propels them. The animals glide through the air with this momentum, sometimes catching a current to maintain height or speed. Flying Rays may use this motion while high up in the air to gain speed or altitude. This flight method is reminiscent to the flicking of a rubber band.
Lightweight, especially for their size, air flows through these organisms' mouths and out gills, helping them sustain flight. Gills can be constricted or relaxed to allow more or less air to pass through; when slowing, the Flying Ray slightly inflates like a parachute, descending gently. The beings, when seen, display grace and complexity in their flight patterns, making tight turns, wide arches, deep dives, and figure-eight turnarounds.
Sensitive to sunlight.
Aerial Manta Rays are almost always sighted alone.
DIET AND FEEDING
Flying through the air with their toothless mouths opening wide, intermittently closing, these entities swim over areas near water at night.
While wavering (as if in the water, not flapping like a bird), the creature consumes insects. In the air, the Aerial Manta Ray also filter feeds, consuming not only bugs but pollen and other airborne particles.
NIGHTTIME DISPLAYS
Though color is noticeable on the creature in the dark, in the light it becomes translucent and takes on a glow like a jellyfish—the wings, head, and tail more transparent than its core.
Sometimes it almost seems to toy with passersby, flying towards their car before looping backward last minute.
BIOLOGY
ECOLOGY
TOURISTRY
The first thing typically seen in Flying Ray encounters are their tiny, round eyes above the corners of their mouth—which are a glowing orange-red and are located on the being’s underside. Some report feeling pulses of sound near the creatures, but hearing no high-pitched or low-pitched noises, indicating that the creatures may communicate in extremely low tones. All sightings last less than 15 minutes and are comprised of seeing the creature fly, eat, and/or disappear.