Rhinoptera marginata (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817)
Lusitanian cownose ray
Rhinoptera marginata
photo by FAO

Family:  Rhinopteridae (Cownose rays)
Max. size:  200 cm WD (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: southern Spain to Senegal, including the Mediterranean.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Found in tropical to warm temperate coastal waters, but absent from islands of western Pacific. Often forming large groups swimming near the surface and quite destructive of commercial oyster and clam beds. Feeds on bottom-living mollusks, crustaceans and fishes. Seldom marketed. Ovoviviparous, gestation period up to one year with 2-6 embryos produced.
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 04 August 2020 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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