Cownose Ray
ExploreFish
Cownose Ray
Rhinoptera bonasus
Cownose Rays have a unique shape that looks like a cow's nose! They are friendly and often swim in groups.
Habitat: Shallow coastal waters
Appearance
The Cownose Ray has a distinctive, deeply notched snout with two prominent lobes that resemble a cow's nose. Its broad, diamond-shaped body is typically olive-brown to dark brown above and white below, with long, pointed pectoral fins.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassElasmobranchiiOrderMyliobatiformesFamilyMyliobatidaeGenusRhinoptera
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Baby cownose rays are called pups, just like dog babies!
Their 'cow nose' lobes help them stir up the seabed for food.
They can jump completely out of the water sometimes!
They migrate in huge schools that can contain thousands of rays!
Special abilities
Ability
Electro-Sensing Snout
Cownose Ray can find hidden clams and oysters by sensing faint electric fields from buried prey with its specialized snout.
Ability
Powerful Shell Crusher
Cownose Ray has powerful, flat teeth that help them easily crush the hard shells of mollusks like oysters and clams.
Ability
Venomous Whip
Cownose Ray has a sharp, venomous barb near its tail base that helps them deter predators and protect themselves.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 50-90 cm
- Weight
- 5-23 kg
- Lifespan
- 15-20 years
- Swim Speed
- 10 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 40 m
- Water Type
- Saltwater
Diet & Feeding
These rays dig for tasty clams, oysters, and crabs hiding in the sandy seabed.
Primary Foods
- Clams
- Oysters
- Scallops
- Mussels
- Crabs
- Shrimp
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
A common predator that hunts young rays.
eaten by
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Larger sharks often prey on adult cownose rays.
eats
Eastern Oyster
Crassostrea virginica
A primary food source, crushed by their powerful jaws.
eats
Hard Clam
Mercenaria mercenaria
These rays dig these clams from the seabed.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Also known as
Cownose Ray FishCownose Skate
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Cownose Ray?
50-90 cm
How much does Cownose Ray weigh?
5-23 kg
How long does Cownose Ray live?
15-20 years
What does Cownose Ray eat?
These rays dig for tasty clams, oysters, and crabs hiding in the sandy seabed.
How fast can Cownose Ray swim?
10 km/h
Where is Cownose Ray usually found?
Shallow coastal waters
How does Cownose Ray hunt?
Foraging
How deep can Cownose Ray go?
40 m
Snap Map
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