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Heliobatis radians

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description Heliobatis radians Overview

Heliobatis radians is an extinct species of freshwater stingray known from Eocene deposits of western North America, especially the Green River Formation in Wyoming. Fossil specimens preserve the ray's flattened body, broad pectoral fins, tail, and a defensive spine, providing evidence about the anatomy of ancient freshwater ray communities. It is studied as part of the Fossil Lake ecosystems represented in the Green River deposits, which preserve many articulated fish fossils.

help Heliobatis radians FAQ

Where are Heliobatis radians fossils found?

Well-preserved specimens are associated with Fossil Lake in Wyoming’s Green River Formation. The species lived during the early Eocene, when the region contained freshwater lake environments. [National Park Service](https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/F18115F8-155D-451F-672B7B4A69823634)

Was Heliobatis radians a freshwater ray?

Yes. Heliobatis was an extinct freshwater stingray genus from the Green River Formation, unlike the marine stingrays most people encounter today. Fossil Lake is especially important because fine lake sediments preserved complete ray bodies and other aquatic animals. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliobatis)

Can the fossil prove that Heliobatis radians had venom?

The preserved tail spine supports its identification as a stingray and is consistent with the defensive anatomy of modern stingrays. A fossil cannot directly preserve or chemically prove the venom itself, so the safest claim is that it had a venom-associated stingray spine. [National Park Service](https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/F18115F8-155D-451F-672B7B4A69823634)

Which other extinct ray lived in the same formation?

Asterotrygon maloneyi is another extinct freshwater stingray associated with the Green River Formation. Heliobatis radians is notable because specimens can preserve the body disk, tail, and spine in unusually fine detail. [Sotheby’s](https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/natural-history-2/fossil-stingray)

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