We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Aquatic

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Cownose Ray?

By Angie Bates
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 6,913
Share

The cownose ray is a type of marine fish which lives near North African and North American coastlines in the Atlantic ocean and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Rays are distinctive fish with flat, kite-shaped bodies, which result from their wing-like fins and long, whip-like tails. One of 42 species of rays, the scientific name for the cownose ray is Rhinoptera bonasus.

Also called a cowfish or a skeete, the cownose ray derives its common name from its wide, squared nose. Its smooth skin is brown above and white below, and its tail spines, poisonous spikes common to all rays, are located near the base of the tail. These rays are usually about 36 inches (91.4 cm) in total width and can weight up to 50 pounds (22.7 kg).

A ray's teeth are actually flat plates located on its upper and lower jaws. The plates hold columns of teeth fitted together to make a whole. In the cownose ray, the plate has seven series, or columns, of teeth. Each series has 11-13 teeth, and teeth are either hexagonal, pentagonal, or tetragonal depending on their location on the plate.

Primarily feeding on bivalve mollusks, the ray's dental plates are ideal for crushing the hard shells of its desired food. Cownose rays also feed on some crustaceans and bony fish. To feed, these rays flap their wings against the sandy ocean floor to uncover their prey. This behavior is seen frequently in oyster beds and subsequently destroys the beds.

Breeding in June through October, cownose rays are oviviviparous, meaning the young is gestated inside eggs inside the female ray's body. Gestation is believed to last 11 to 12 months, and normally just one offspring, or pup, is born. The pup measures between 11-18 inches (28-45.7 cm) long at birth. Rays are thought to live 13-18 years.

The cownose ray is known for its long migrations. In late fall, schools of these rays will travel to the coasts in northern South America to live until late spring when they will return to their North American habitats. Schools are often large, some numbering in the millions, and rays stay in schools throughout the year.

Though the spines of all rays are poisonous, the cownose ray is not considered very dangerous to humans. These rays do not sit on the ocean floor as many other species do, so danger of stepping on them is almost eliminated. Also, since their tail spines are located near the base of their tails, the flicking of the tail that makes other rays dangerous is minimal. Care should still be taken around these animals, however, since it is possible to be hurt by the tail spines.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-is-a-cownose-ray.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.