Rhinoptera bonasus
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Classis: Chondrichthyes
Subclassis: Elasmobranchii
Infraclassis: Euselachii
Division/Cohort: Neoselachii
Subdivision/Subcohort: Batoidea
Superordo: Batomorphii
Ordo: Myliobatiformes
Subordo: Myliobatoidei
Superfamilia: Dasyatoidea
Familia: Myliobatidae
Genus: Rhinoptera
Species: Rhinoptera bonasus
Name
Rhinoptera bonasus (Mitchill, 1815)
References
Rhinoptera bonasus – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
English: Cownose ray
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, United States to southern Brazil (the East Atlantic populations are now generally considered a separate species, the Lusitanian cownose ray (R. marginata)). Male rays often reach about 2 and 1/2 feet in width. Females typically reach about 3 feet in width. However, there have been reports of rays up to 7 feet in width. Sizes change depending on the geographical range. Females will usually grow larger than males, allowing for larger offspring. These rays also belong to the order Myliobatiformes, a group that is shared by bat rays, manta rays, and eagle rays.[2]
In 2019, the species was listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.[1]
Taxonomy
The genus name Rhinoptera is named for the Ancient Greek words for nose (rhinos) and wing (pteron). The species name bonasus comes from the Ancient Greek for bison (bonasos).
Description
The cownose ray is 11 to 18 inches (28 to 46 cm) in width at birth. A mature specimen can grow to 45 inches (1.1 m) in width, and weigh 50 pounds (23 kg) or more. There is some controversy over the size that a mature cownose ray can reach. A ray reaching a span of 84 inches (2.1 m) has been recorded.[3] The cownose ray is often mistaken for being a shark by beach-goers. This is due to the tips of the rays fins sticking out of the water, often resembling the dorsal fin of a shark.[2]
A cownose ray is typically brown-backed with a whitish or yellowish belly. Although its coloration is not particularly distinctive, its shape is easily recognizable. It has a broad head with wide-set eyes, and a pair of distinctive lobes on its subrostral fin. It also has a set of dental plates designed for crushing clams and oyster shells. When threatened the cownose ray can use the barb at the base of its tail to defend itself from the threat.[4]
A cownose ray has a spine with a toxin, close to the ray's body. This spine has teeth lining its lateral edges, and is coated with a weak venom that causes symptoms similar to that of a bee sting.[3]
Behavior
Diet and feeding
The cownose ray feeds upon clams, oysters, hard clams and other invertebrates. It uses two modified fins on its front side to produce suction, which allows it to draw food into its mouth, where it crushes its food with its dental plates. Cownose rays typically swim in groups, which allows them to use their synchronized wing flaps to stir up sediment and expose buried clams and oysters.
The cownose ray prefers to feed either in the early morning hours, or in the late afternoon hours; when the waves are calm and visibility is higher than during the day. The cownose ray has a jaw that reflects its diet of: benthic bivalve mollusks, crustaceans, and polychaetes. Their jaws are extremely robust and have teeth with a hardness comparable to that of cement, allowing them to eat hard shells. The feeding habits of cownose rays is cause for increasing concern, as they are known for destroying oyster beds that are already being destroyed largely by human pollution. The cownose rays destruction of large oyster beds only further puts oyster beds at risk.[5]
Predation
The cownose ray sits fairly high up on the food chain, and as a result only has a few natural predators. These predators include; cobia, hammerhead sharks, and humans who like to fish for them.[6][7]
Reproduction and lifespan
Sexual maturity for both males and females is reached around 4 to 5 years of age. In the Gulf of Mexico, females live up to 18 years, and males only live up to 16 years.[8]
Cownose rays breed from June through October. A large school of cownose rays gather of varying ages and sexes in shallow waters. A female will swim with the edges of her pectoral fins sticking out of the water, with male cownose rays following her trying to grasp the fins to mate.[4]
The embryo grows within its mother with its wings folded over its body. Initially it is nourished by an egg yolk, although the uterine secretions of the mother nourish it later in its development. The length of gestation is disputed, but it is believed to last between 11 and 12 months and is variable. At full term, the offspring are born live, exiting tail first.
Migration
Cownose rays swimming in shallows in the Gulf of Mexico
The cownose ray often migrates from the Gulf of Mexico to Trinidad, Venezuela, and Brazil.[3] The Atlantic migration pattern consists of the cownose rays moving north in late Spring and moving south in late Fall.
Migration may be influenced by water temperature and sun orientation, which explains the seasonal migration pattern. Southern migration may be influenced by solar orientation and Northern migration may be influenced by the change in water temperature.
It is unknown whether their migratory behavior is due to feeding or premigratory mating activity.[4]
The cownose ray is also present in areas such as Maryland and Virginia, and can be seen migrating and schooling, as it is not uncommon for them to swim near the surface, despite feeding mostly on the bottom. These schools can be seen and migration tracked via airplane as it is easy to see the schools from the sky. However, while the migration patterns can tracked, the exact reason for migration is currently unknown.[9]
The cownose ray has recently been spotted in the inland waters of the mid Atlantic island of Bermuda.[10]
Cownose stingray teeth and mouthparts. Stingray teeth consist of interlocking bars (dental plates) that crush food.
Habitat
Cownose rays appear naturally in the Eastern and Western Atlantic Ocean. Within the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, the cownose ray can often be found in Mauritania, Senegal, and Guinea. In the Western Atlantic Ocean, they are located from Southern New England to Northern Florida in the United States, as well as throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad, Venezuela, and Brazil.
They live in brackish and marine habitats and can be found at depth up to 72 feet (22 m). They are social creatures and migrate extremely long distances, often traveling in schools.[1]
Conservation status
The cownose ray is currently listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List due to extensive overfishing in the Caribbean. It is less threatened in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coast of North America, but the species overall has still experienced steep population declines of 30-49% in only 43 years. Cownose ray killing contests have been banned in the state of Maryland.[1]
Relationship to humans
Risk to humans
Stingrays, including the cownose ray, can pose a low to moderate risk to humans. Rays will lash their tails when threatened, posing a risk of being whipped. If threatened, the cownose ray can also use their barb as a weapon to sting the aggressor. A sting from a cownose ray can cause a very painful wound that requires medical attention once stung. While the sting is not usually fatal, it can be fatal if stung in the abdomen.[11] There is also a risk associated with eating meat from the sea animal that has not been prepared correctly. Shigella may be acquired from eating meat from a cownose ray that has been contaminated with the bacteria. This bacteria causes shigellosis, and can result in dysentery. Symptoms can include diarrhea, pain, fever, and possible dehydration.[5]
Fishing
One solution to the cownose rays' destruction of oyster beds, as well as their overpopulation in certain areas, is to open the ray up for commercial fishing. However, since the means to fish them are difficult and expensive to obtain, and the meat of the rays has very little demand, this solution would most likely prove to be too expensive and yield too little of a profit for it to be a viable venture for any commercial fishermen. It is, however, often caught by hobby fishermen.[5] In the Caribbean and along the Venezuelan coast, the ray is heavily overfished leading to declines of up to 49% of the population in the last 43 years.[1]
Aquariums
Cownose rays can be seen in many public aquaria worldwide and are often featured in special 'touch tanks' where visitors can reach into a wide but shallow pool containing the fish, which have often had their barbs pinched or taken off (they eventually regrow, similar to human nails), making them safe enough to touch.
The following aquariums and zoos are known to have touch tanks featuring cownose rays (alone or with other fish):
USA
Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey[12]
Albuquerque Aquarium in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans, Louisiana[13]
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona[14]
Atlantic City Aquarium in Atlantic City, New Jersey[15]
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California
Butterfly House and Aquarium in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California
Children's Aquarium at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas
Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio
Downtown Aquarium, Denver in Denver, Colorado[16]
Fresno Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, California
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia[17]
Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, Florida
Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska[18][19]
Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana
Kansas City Zoo in Kansas City, Missouri
Living Shores Aquarium in Glen, New Hampshire
Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in Riverhead, New York
Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida
Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, Florida
Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut
Memphis Zoo and Aquarium in Memphis, Tennessee
Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport, Mississippi
Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa
The New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts
New York Aquarium in Brooklyn, New York
Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores in Emerald Isle, North Carolina
Ocean Adventures in Gulfport, Mississippi
Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Phoenix Zoo in Phoenix, Arizona
Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch in Picacho, Arizona[20]
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina[21]
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri[22]
San Antonio Aquarium in San Antonio, Texas[23]
SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida
Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois
Shreveport Aquarium in Shreveport, Louisiana
Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, Texas[24]
Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio
Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida[25]
Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, New Jersey[26][verification needed]
Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri
ViaAquarium in Rotterdam, New York
Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Greensboro Science Center in Greensboro, North Carolina
Canada
Aquarium of Quebec in Quebec City[27]
Granby Zoo in Granby
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada in Toronto, Ontario[28]
The Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, British Columbia[29]
Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba[30]
References
Carlson, J.; Charvet, P.; Avalos, C.; Blanco-Parra, MP, 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.
"Cownose Ray Facts". Saint Louis Zoo. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
Ball, Michael (July 16, 2012). "Commercial Fishery Species Guide" (PDF). NOAA Fisheries Service Apex Predator Program. NOAA. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 22, 2016.
Kittle, Kimberly. "University of Florida". Rhinoptera bonasus. Florida museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on 2016-04-27.
"Rhinoptera bonasus". Florida Museum. 2017-05-11. Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
"Cownose Ray | Chesapeake Bay Program". www.chesapeakebay.net. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
"Cownose Rays in the Chesapeake Bay: What do we know?" (PDF). Chesapeake Bay Program. 22 October 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
Puglisi, Melany P. (August 1, 2008). "Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce". Rhinopera bonasus. Archived from the original on May 3, 2016.
Smith, Joseph W.; Merriner, John V. (1987). "Age and growth, movements and distribution of the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus, in Chesapeake Bay". Estuaries. 10 (2): 153–164. doi:10.2307/1352180. JSTOR 1352180. S2CID 84445210.
"New Addition To Bermuda's Marine Wildlife". Bernews. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
"Stingray". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
"Adventure Aquarium - Camden, NJ". www.adventureaquarium.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
"Stingray Touchpool | Aquarium Exhibits | Explore Aquarium". Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
"Stingray Touch - Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
"Cownose Ray - Atlantic City Aquarium". Archived from the original on 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
"Downtown Aquarium Denver Visitor Info". Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
"SeaTrek Helmet Diving at OdySea Aquarium". Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
"Stingray Beach". www.omahazoo.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
writer, Carol Bicak / World-Herald staff. "You can touch a stingray at new exhibit at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium". Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
"Petting Zoo -Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
"Touch a ray at friendship flats". Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
"Stingrays at Caribbean Cove presented by SSM Health". Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
"The San Antonio Aquarium". Archived from the original on 2018-04-07. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
"Texas State Aquarium". Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
"Cownose Sting Ray". Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
"Animals A-Z". Turtle Back Zoo. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
"Quebec Aquarium". Quebec Aquarium. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
"Ray Bay - Ripley's Aquarium of Canada". Ripley's Aquarium of Canada. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
"Vancouver Aquarium - Discover Rays". www.vanaqua.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
"Stingray Beach - Assiniboine Park Zoo". Assiniboine Park Zoo. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
Barker, A.S. (2006). "Rhinoptera bonasus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2006: e.T60128A12310195. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T60128A12310195.en. Database entry includes a lengthy justification of why this species is near threatened.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2005). "Rhinoptera bonasus" in FishBase. August 2005 version.
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Dept: Cownose Rays
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