Cownose ray

This article is about the ray common in the western Atlantic. For other species of cownose rays, see Rhinoptera.

Cownose ray
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Rhinopteridae
Genus: Rhinoptera
Species:
R. bonasus
Binomial name
Rhinoptera bonasus
(Mitchill, 1815)

The cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) is a species of Batoidea found throughout a large part of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, from New England to southern Brazil (the East Atlantic populations are now generally considered a separate species, the Lusitanian cownose ray (R. marginata)).[2] These rays also belong to the order Myliobatiformes, a group that is shared by bat rays, manta rays, and eagle rays.[3]

Cownose rays prefer to live in shallower, coastal waters or estuaries.[2] Size, lifespan, and maturity differ between male and female rays. Rays have a distinct shape, and it has two lobes at the front of its head, resembling a cow nose. Cownose rays can live between 16 and 21 years, depending on sex.[4] Rays feed upon organisms with harder shells, such as clams, crustaceans, or mollusks.[2] They are migratory creatures, where they migrate South in the winter and North in the summer.[4] The rays are known to occupy the Chesapeake Bay in the summer months.

In 2019, the species was listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.[1] The species has been subjected to overfishing due to the perceived threat of overpopulation in the Chesapeake Bay.[5] There are not many conservation strategies or efforts for cownose rays.

  1. ^ a b Carlson, J.; Charvet, P.; Avalos, C.; Blanco-Parra, M.P.; Briones Bell-lloch, A.; Cardenosa, D.; Crysler, Z.; Derrick, D.; Espinoza, E.; Morales-Saldaña, J.M.; Naranjo-Elizondo, B.; Pacoureau, N.; Pérez Jiménez, J.C.; Schneider, E.V.C.; Simpson, N.J. & Dulvy, N.K. (2020). "Rhinoptera bonasus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T60128A3088381. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T60128A3088381.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Omori, Kristen L.; Fisher, Robert A. (2017-11-01). "Summer and fall movement of cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus, along the east coast of United States observed with pop-up satellite tags". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 100 (11): 1435–1449. Bibcode:2017EnvBF.100.1435O. doi:10.1007/s10641-017-0654-6. ISSN 1573-5133.
  3. ^ "Cownose Ray Facts". Saint Louis Zoo. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Fisher, Robert A. (2012). Life history, trophic ecology, & prey handling by cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus, from Chesapeake Bay. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Virginia Sea Grant, College of William and Mary. OCLC 793126326.
  5. ^ Grubbs, R. Dean; Carlson, John K.; Romine, Jason G.; Curtis, Tobey H.; McElroy, W. David; McCandless, Camilla T.; Cotton, Charles F.; Musick, John A. (2016-02-15). "Critical assessment and ramifications of a purported marine trophic cascade". Scientific Reports. 6 (1): 20970. Bibcode:2016NatSR...620970G. doi:10.1038/srep20970. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 4753470. PMID 26876514.