The Flying Manta Ray of Peñalolén is a little-known cryptid reportedly seen in the commune of Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile. While it shares similarities with other winged cryptids like Manta-Man or the Mothman, it displays several key differences in behavior and appearance.
The most well-known sighting comes from a testimony collected by investigator Raúl Núñez, relayed by a local merchant identified only by the initials F.A. According to the account, sometime around 11:00 p.m. near the end of February 2011 F.A. was sitting in his garden trying to cool off from the evening heat when he was startled by the sudden appearance of a strange flying creature. The being, which he described as resembling a manta ray, was estimated to be nearly 2 meters in length, dark in color, and gave the impression of being gelatinous and wet.
The creature reportedly landed in the trees nearby, allowing the witness to see its glowing reddish eyes. Alarmed, F.A. retreated inside his house and returned armed with a stick in a defensive stance. However, the creature simply took flight and disappeared.
Notably, other residents from the same area have reported similar sightings, describing a large, manta-like flying creature that seems to emerge from the edges of the nearby mountains. Witnesses are consistent in stating that it does not resemble a bird or mammal, but instead has qualities more akin to a fish or aquatic animal—particularly a manta ray.
This isn’t the first report of such an entity in Chile’s capital. In the 1990s, retired journalist Osvaldo Muray documented accounts from residents of the Juanita Aguirre neighborhood, who also claimed to have seen a similar large, gliding creature. A 1996 issue of the magazine Revelación (Issue No. 6, May) reported on a "huge gliding creature similar to a manta ray that flew and hid in nearby lakes."
Possible explanations:[]
1. Misidentified Animal – Giant Bird or Bat[]
- Large owls (e.g., the barn owl or the black-chested buzzard-eagle) could appear mysterious at night, especially when backlit or flying close to treetops. (e.g., the barn owl or the black-chested buzzard-eagle) could appear mysterious at night, especially when backlit or flying close to treetops.
- Fruit bats (flying foxes) are too small and not native to Chile, but in a confused or frightened state, a person might exaggerate the size.
- A condor or vulture seen at an odd anA real flying fishe might give a strange impression, though their flight patterns and shapes are usually distinct.
2. Unknown or Migrating Marine Animal[]
- A real flying fish is impossible in this context—it can glide briefly over water but wouldn’t appear gelatinous, tree-perching, or inland.
- The creature having fish-like or aquatic features may suggest a psychological associatiodrone with lights, , kite, or balloon iies linked to marine life) rather than a real aquatic origin.
3. Weather Balloons, Drones, or Kites[]
- A misidentified drone with lights, kite, or balloon in low-light conditions could trigger pareidolia—our brain “seeing” faces or creatures in unfamiliar shapes.
- However, the consistent reports of movement, red eyes, and wet texture argue against purely mechanical objects.
References:[]
- https://zoopedia.blogspot.com/2013/03/manta-raya-voladora-en-penalolen.html
- Revelación Issue No. 6, May, Percy Eaglehurst R