Cownose Ray | Oceana
Home / Cownose Ray

Marine Life Encyclopedia

Sharks & Rays

Cownose Ray

Rhinoptera bonasus

Distribution

Tropical to temperate latitudes in the western Atlantic Ocean

ECOSYSTEM/HABITAT

Shallow coastal waters

FEEDING HABITS

Foraging predator

TAXONOMY

Order Myliobatiformes (stingrays and relatives), Family Rhinopteridae (cownose rays)

Named for the shape of its head, which when observed from above resembles a cow’s nose, the cownose ray is a moderately sized stingray native to the western Atlantic Ocean. Like all eagle rays, cownose rays are active swimmers and are rarely found lying motionless on the seafloor like the closely related whiptail stingrays (e.g., southern stingray).

Cownose rays have a distinct shape with long, pointed pectoral fins or “wings” that are separated into two lobes at the front of their high-domed heads – creating the cow-nose shape. This species is a foraging predator that specializes on shelled, invertebrate prey including clams, snails, lobsters, oysters and crabs. Once cownose rays detect their prey, they flap their pectoral fins while also sucking up sediment through their mouths and out their gill slits. Eventually they draw the prey into their mouth and use their strong jaws and thick, crushing tooth plates to break open the shells. In some areas, experts hypothesize that large populations of cownose rays have contributed to the decimation of local shellfish populations, threatening fisheries that target those species.

Generally found in shallow marine and brackish coastal waters, cownose rays are also known to form large schools and migrate long distances. However, their migration patterns and reason for traveling such long distances (i.e. feeding or mating) are not fully understood. Adult cownose rays reach widths of approximately three feet (~1 m) and have few natural predators, though some large coastal sharks are known to attack and eat this species. Cownose rays are ovoviviparous, meaning eggs develop and are hatched within the body of the mother. Embryos live off of energy obtained from yolk sacs, and then later in their development are nourished by the uterine secretions of their mother. Only after the young are able to survive on their own does the mother give birth to her young. Generally, each female only produces one pup at a time.

Cownose rays have poisonous stingers, however, since they are shy and generally swim at the surface, they pose a minimal risk to humans stepping on their spine. Though cownose rays are not targeted in commercial fisheries, they are often captured accidentally in fisheries targeting other species. Some people have suggested a possible future fishery for this moderately common ray, which may have an adverse impact on their populations if not properly managed. Cownose rays are calm, graceful swimmers and are often featured in public engagement exhibits – such as touch tanks – in aquariums throughout their range. Experts consider this species ‘near threatened’ with extinction.

Fun Facts About Cownose Rays

1. Cownose rays are named for their distinctly creased head lobes that resemble the nose of a cow.

2. The largest cownose ray ever recorded was 7 feet (2.1 m) long from wing tip to wing tip.

3. Cownose rays swim near the surface but have been seen at depths up to 72 feet (22 m).

4. Cownose rays have mildly venomous spines and typically only sting when threatened.1

5. Cownose rays are strong swimmers that have been seen migrating in groups of up to 10,000 rays.2

References:

1 Florida Museum

2 Monterey Bay Aquarium

IUCN Red List

Get Involved

Donate Today

SUPPORT OUR WORK TO PROTECT THE OCEANS BY GIVING TODAY

With the support of more than 1 million activists like you, we have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean.

Donate Now

TAKE ACTION NOW

Support policy change for the oceans

Decision-makers need to hear from ocean lovers like you. Make your voice heard!

Sign Now

VISIT OUR ADOPTION CENTER

SYMBOLICALLY ADOPT AN ANIMAL TODAY

Visit our online store to see all the ocean animals you can symbolically adopt, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

Shop Today

DOWNLOAD OCEAN ACTIVITIES

HELP KIDS DISCOVER OUR BLUE PLANET

Our free KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) empower children to learn about and protect our oceans!

Learn More

FEATURED CAMPAIGN

Save the Oceans, Feed the World

We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people.

Learn More

More CAMPAIGNs

Protect Habitat

Bycatch

Plastics

View All

CONTACT

Oceana International Headquarters
1025 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA

General Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
info@oceana.org

Donation Inquiries
+1(202)-996-7174
wavemaker@oceana.org

Press Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
press@oceana.org

OCEANA'S EFFICIENCY

BECOME A WAVEMAKER

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Now

QUICK LINKS: