Cownose ray

Ten years ago, cownose rays in the Atlantic got a bad rap when this species (Rhinoptera bonasus) was accused of excessively eating up scallops in […]

Stingrays are known for their expansive migrations – the cownose ray population in the Gulf of Mexico completes the journey from Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula to western Florida each year in schools (or ‘fevers’) of as many as 10,000 rays! When you migrate to Shedd, stop by Stingray Touch and experience these magnificent, tactile creatures for yourself.

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Cownose rays belong to the family Myliobatidae, which also includes eagle and manta rays. They have the familiar winged shape of many species of large rays. This species has a distinguishing characteristic, its rostrum, the basis for its common name, cownose. The pectoral fins separate at the front of the head into two lobes with a center crease which, combined with the indented notch in the ray’s cartilaginous skull, give the rays a cow-like appearance. The species is migratory, usually…

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Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, FL has a stingray petting zoo. The barbs are removed from the rays so that people don't get injured when the rays swim up to you to be petted (the barbs grow back in, so they must be removed periodically). The cownose is a common ray, not very big, with eyes set wide apart. It has teeth that it uses to crunch shellfish. Baby cownoses are born live, exiting tail first. When the animals reach adult size, they are released into the wild.