1. (in Spain and Spanish America) a cloak or wrap. 2. the type of blanket or cloth used on a horse or mule. 3. Military. a movable shelter formerly used to protect besiegers, as when attacking a fortress. 4. Ichthyology. Also called manta ray, devil ray, devilfish. any of several tropical rays of the small family Mobulidae, esp. of the genus Manta, measuring from 2 to 24 ft. (0.6 to 7.3 m) across, including the pectoral fins.
Because it has a backbone. see the excellent answer under "IS A SHARK A VERTEBRATE OR INVERTEBRATE" for more info.
No a Manta is a shark.
Manta (as in Manta Ray), Santa.
Manta birostris
Abel Manta was born in 1888.
Abel Manta died in 1982.
Lorenzo Manta was born in 1974.
Black Manta was created in 1967.
Operation Manta happened in 1983.
Manta - comics - was created in 1980.
Manta Mirage was created in 1974.
I've heard the term for a group of manta rays to be "A fever of manta rays"