What is cyclobatis?

Cyclobatis, also known as the "buzzsaw ray", is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray that lived during the Cretaceous period, approximately 98 to 66 million years ago. It was first described in 1937 based on fossils found in Lebanon. The name Cyclobatis is derived from the Greek words "kyklos" (meaning "circle") and "batis" (meaning "ray").

Cyclobatis had a unique appearance, with a circular body that measured about 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter, and a flat, heavily toothed disk-shaped head that looked like a saw blade. It also had a long, whip-like tail that ended in a sharp spike. These features suggest that Cyclobatis was an active predator that used its saw-like teeth to cut through the shells of mollusks and other prey.

Due to its unusual shape and toothed head, Cyclobatis is often compared to modern-day sawfish, but it is actually more closely related to skates and rays. Like other cartilaginous fish, Cyclobatis likely had a flexible skeleton made of cartilage rather than bone.

Cyclobatis fossils have been found in several locations around the world, including Lebanon, England, Japan, and the United States. Despite its fearsome appearance, Cyclobatis is believed to have been a relatively small and docile fish that posed no threat to humans.