Common
Names:
Atlantic Cownose Ray, Cownosed Ray.
Latin
Name: Rhinoptera bonasus
Family:
Rhinopteridae
Identification:
Pectoral Fins wide
and falcate (sickle shaped). Bulbous head with concave leading edge (as in a
cows nose hence common name). Single dorsal fin present at base of tail. Tail
long and whiplike. Dorsum
generally mid to dark brown. Ventrum pale with dusky pectoral fin tips.
Individual species of cownose rays are very difficult to identify by visual
clues alone and geographic range of different species partially overlap. Max
size can be a useful clue. Accurate identification is possible by examination of
tooth plates and vertebral counts of dead specimens.
Size:
Maximum
disc width 213cm. Disc width at birth 36cm.
Habitat:
Inshore
waters, beaches, seamounts, mangroves, to 60m depth.
Abundance
and distribution: Eastern Atlantic from Mauritania, Senegal, and
Guinea.
Western Atlantic from New England
to Brazil.
Behavior: Swims in chools or singly. Stirs up
sediment by flapping pectoral fins to find prey (mollusks and crustaceans).
Reproduction:
Females give birth in protected mangrove areas.
Observations: I have seen a school of Atlantic
Cownose Rays in Palama City FL. weaving between swimmers on the beach in 4ft of
water.
Photographs:
Florida.
Similar
species: Cownose Ray species are
difficult to identify from one another without close examination. Best clues
include size and Geographic location.
Reaction
to divers: As mentioned above, I
have witnessed these rays swimming semingly oblivious around bathers but
generally they are hard to approach or even locate.
Diving logistics: If
you know of any area where cownosed rays can be reliably found please contact
elasmodiver.
Other locations for
viewing Atlantic Cownose Rays submitted by readers:
Locations submitted by Chris Strong:
I see them whenever I go to the Outer Banks and go out on the
Frisco fishing pier. The viewing height makes it easier to see them. They
come up near the surface, usually in pairs, then disappear again. I've seen
them reliably from the Frisco fishing pier northeast towards the point. There
are some real monsters. Just this last Friday I caught a 35-40 pounder while
fishing near the Billy Mitchell airport. I had fun trying to get it in, then
released it unharmed. This stretch of shallow water seems to be attractive
for them, at least when I've been there (usually from the last couple of weeks
in April through the first couple of weeks in May). I do not know about other
times of the year.
This area seems to be popular with Sandbar Tiger Sharks also. I
usually hear of someone catching one or two sizable ones each year. I pulled
in about a 20-25 pounder about 10 or 15 minutes after I landed the ray. I
think that this area would prove promising for observing rays, however the
riptides are treacherous there.
Further
reading:
Reef
Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.
Sharks
and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.
