In the roots site, I saw "bat-" as root for manta ray,sting ray,etc. The shape of a bat and the shape of a ray are a
bit similar. So I tried to look up etymology of "bat" and got "Not Found". But I found a site with the name for "bat"
in a couple dozen languages. I think many members will
find it interesting.It is much to long to post in toto.

http://66.218.71.225/search/cache?p=etymology+bat&ei=UTF-8&cop=mss&url=CkuooynnpuIJ:momiji.arts-dlll.yorku.ca/johnd/Aca/bats.rtf

a flitch of bacon...

Hmm. Not sure why the root bat- would be posited for manta ray or our flying mouse. A-H suggests that bat comes from ME bakke of Scandinavian origin. Manta comes from Spanish manto and may derive from L mantum 'lcoak, overcoat'. And ray is from L raja. Just not sure.

Dear jheem: here the URL:
http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/courses.hp/zool250/Roots/roots.A-C.htm

baccatus- berried
baena- walking
balan- acorn
barb- beard
basi- at the bottom
bat(is) skate, ray

I couldn't remember "skate" and stupidly substituted "manta"

http://66.218.71.225/search/cache?p=etymology+bat&ei=UTF-8&cop=mss&url=CkuooynnpuIJ:momiji.arts-dlll.yorku.ca/johnd/Aca/bats.rtf

http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/courses.hp/zool250/Roots/roots.A-C.htm

Oh, I see. Greek batis is a kind of fish or possibly a ray or skate. Nice to know.

I worked at a software company that had a large artifical pond around which its buildings were placed. There were rays in it (it was connected to a slough and to San Francisco Bay). They were beautiful creatures, skating along the surface and dipping the tips of their wings out into the air. A little under a meter across: black on top and white on the bottom. For a couple of months there was also a small seal in the pond. Really the only pleasant memories of that job.