| Family: |
Rhinopteridae (Cownose rays) |
| Max. size: |
120 cm WD (male/unsexed); max.weight: 953.0 g |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 22 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: from New England (USA) to northern Argentina (Ref. 114953); including northern Florida (USA), throughout the Gulf of Mexico, migrating to Trinidad, Venezuela, Brazil and Uruguay (Ref. 7251). |
| Diagnosis: |
Deep grove around front of head below eyes; forehead above groove indented, snout below groove is distinctly bilobed (Ref. 26938). Disk brown to olive above, with no spots or marks, wings long and pointed (Ref. 7251). Lower surface white or yellowish white (Ref. 6902). |
| Biology: |
A benthopelagic species found on continental and insular shelves; enters bays and estuaries; forms huge schools inshore (Ref. 114953). Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates and molluscs (implicated in damaging seagrass beds) (Ref. 93252, 114953). Jumps occasionally, landing with a loud smack, probably as a territorial display. Migrates south in large schools that disappear off northern Florida, USA and are not reported from Caribbean Is.; tagged fish have been recovered in northern South America (Ref. 7251). Population in the Gulf of Mexico migrates clockwise; schools of up to 10,000 rays leave west coast of Florida for Yucatan, Mexico in the fall (Ref. 7251). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 21 June 2019 (A2bd) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
traumatogenic |
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