Cownose ray
Conservation status
Near Threatened
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Rajiformes Family: Myliobatidae Genus: Rhinoptera Species: R. bonasus
Binomial name
Rhinoptera bonasus (Mitchill, 1815)

The Cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) is a species of Eagle ray found throughout a large part of the western Atlantic and Caribbean from New England, USA, in north to southern Brazil. It is the most common type of ray found in the Chesapeake Bay, USA. The rays grow rapidly and male rays are about 35 inches (90 cm) in width and weigh 26 pounds (12 kg). Females are 28 inches (70 cm) in width and weigh 36 pounds (16 kg). Image File history File links Rhinoptera_bonasus_(line_art). ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future. ... Near Threatened (NT) is an conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa which may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status. ... Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses and Orders See text. ... Families Anacanthobatidae Dasyatidae Gymnuridae Hexatrygonidae Myliobatidae Plesiobatidae Potamotrygonidae Rajidae Rhinobatidae Urolophidae Rajiformes is the order of true rays and skates, flat-bodied cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. ... Genera Myliobatis Rhinoptera Pteromylaeus Aetobatus Aetomylaeus Eagle rays (Myliobatidae) are a family of mostly large rays living in the open sea rather than at the bottom of the sea. ... Rhinoptera is a genus of fish in the Rhinopteridae family. ... Latin name redirects here. ... Samuel Latham Mitchill (August 20, 1764 - September 7, 1831) was a US physician, naturalist and Senator. ... Genera Myliobatis Rhinoptera Pteromylaeus Aetobatus Aetomylaeus Manta Mobula Eagle rays (the Myliobatidae family of fish) are a family of mostly large rays living in the open ocean rather than at the bottom of the sea. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... West Indies redirects here. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Orders Rajiformes - common rays and skates Pristiformes - sawfishes Torpediniformes - electric rays See text for families. ... The Chesapeake Bay - Landsat photo The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. ...

When the ray is small it grows inside its mother, positioned with wings folded over its body. It also gains nutrition from the mother's uterine secretions. It also breaks through what is called a breech birth-tail first. The cownose ray is 11 to 18 inches (28 to 46 cm) in width at birth. When it gets older it can often grow to 45 inches (1.1 m) in width, and weigh 50 pounds (23 kg) or more. There is some controversy over the size an adult cownose ray can reach; however a wingspan of 84 inches has been recorded. It is brown-backed with a whitish belly. Ovoviviparous. Ovoviviparous animals develop within eggs that remain within the mother up until they hatch or are about to. ...

Cownose rays don't have a particularly distinctive coloration but its shape is recognizable. Its eyes peer out spookily from the sides of the broad head. It also has a set of remarkable teeth plates designed for crushing clams and oyster shells.

One can also be stung by a cownose ray. The stinger is on its tail, close to the ray's body, and it doesn't usually inflict damage. The stinger is known as the spine which is pointed and it has teeth lining its lateral edges. It is coated with a weak venom that which causes symptoms similar to that of a bee sting.

The cownose ray feeds upon clams. It is a voracious eater. They also eat oysters, hard clams and other invertebrates. The mouth is located on the underside. On the front, there are two modified fins which form a suction which allows the ray to vacuum up food from small cracks. Rays move as a group regardless of time during feeding. This group's synchronized wing flaps stir up sediment and allows the rays to find buried clams and oysters. When they locate their prey they place it in their jaws and crush it. For other uses, see Clam (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Oyster (disambiguation). ... Quahog redirects here. ...

In 2007, from June 2nd to September 1st, Brookfield Zoo featured an exhibit where visitors could reach into a wide but shallow pool containing mostly cownose rays who had their stingers docked, making them safe enough to touch as they swam around the pool. The Brookfield Zoo is a zoo located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, Illinois. ...

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California has rays in its outdoor ray touch pools as well as in its Tropical Reef Habitat in its Tropical Pacific Gallery.The Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, Louisiana currently features a cownose ray touchpool and twice daily visitor feeding times. The Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut also features a ray touch pool exhibit.

References

• Barker (2005). Rhinoptera bonasus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a lengthy justification of why this species is near threatened
• "Rhinoptera bonasus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. August 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.

Cownose rays in an aquarium