cownose ray fun facts

Adult cownose rays reach widths of approximately three feet (~1 m) and have few natural predators, though some large coastal sharks are known to attack and eat this species. "We had not seen any breeding behavior but the two female rays seemed to have gained a bit of weight in late 2017," said Beth Firchau, Audubon Aquarium's Director of Husbandy. A ray reaching a span of 84 inches (2.1 m) has been recorded. The cownose ray has large, flat, tile-like teeth on both jaws that it uses to crush hard-shelled prey. To locate their prey, cownose rays have electroreceptors on their snouts as well as excellent senses of smell and touch. They are considered an open ocean species, but can inhabit inshore, shallow bays and estuaries. However, their migration patterns and reason for traveling such long distances (i.e. Cownose rays are ovoviviparous, meaning eggs develop and are hatched within the body of the mother. Other than their cow-like faces these creatures are graceful swimmers, appearing to glide through the water as if flying. Beach-goers sometimes mistake these rays for sharks. Though cownose rays are not targeted in commercial fisheries, they are often captured accidentally in fisheries targeting other species. Once they find their prey, they flap their wings rapidly to move the sand aside.They suck water and sand into their mouths and blow it out through their gills to create a depression in the sand that allows easier access to their food.They have very strong teeth arranged in flat plates that are perfect for crunching hard-shelled prey. Sailors for the Sea developed the KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) program to create the next generation of ocean stewards. Many gather in Chesapeake Bay during the summer months.Cownose rays feed on bottom-dwelling shellfish, lobster, crabs and fish. But, the underside most commonly displays either a whitish or yellowish color. They prefer warm temperate and tropical waters to depths of 72 feet. Generally, each female only produces one pup at a time.Cownose rays have poisonous stingers, however, since they are shy and generally swim at the surface, they pose a minimal risk to humans stepping on their spine. This usually consists of a light to dark brown on the upper side of the body. Embryos live off of energy obtained from yolk sacs, and then later in their development are nourished by the uterine secretions of their mother.

A trio of female cownose ray pups were born in the Stingray Touchpool located in the Reef Rescue Gallery at the Aquarium. Scientists believe that the migrations may be triggered by seasonal changes in water temperature and sun orientation.They have been seen jumping clear out of the water and landing on their bellies, making loud smacking sounds. Cownose rays are related to sharks and skates. Once cownose rays detect their prey, they flap their pectoral fins while also sucking up sediment through their mouths and out their gill slits. When the rays are swimming near the surface, the tips of the wings sometimes stick out of the water, resembling a shark's dorsal fin.Cownose rays can be found in the Atlantic Ocean along western Africa, the eastern U.S., the Gulf of Mexico and parts of the Caribbean. Like all eagle rays, cownose rays are active swimmers and are rarely found lying motionless on the seafloor like the closely related whiptail stingrays (e.g., Cownose rays have a distinct shape with long, pointed pectoral fins or “wings” that are separated into two lobes at the front of their high-domed heads – creating the cow-nose shape. There is some controversy over the size that a mature cownose ray can reach. Tropical to temperate latitudes in the western Atlantic Ocean Cownose rays feed on crabs, fish, lobsters and molluscs that they find on the seafloor. Unlike in terms of size, individual specimens of Cownose Ray of both genders display the same basic color pattern. Only after the young are able to survive on their own does the mother give birth to her young. In some areas, experts hypothesize that large populations of cownose rays have contributed to the decimation of local shellfish populations, threatening fisheries that target those species. Experts consider this species ‘near threatened’ with extinction.Oceana joined forces with Sailors for the Sea, an ocean conservation organization dedicated to educating and engaging the world’s boating community. These rays spit out the shells of the animals they eat, and only swallow the soft body parts.Stingrays are known for their stingers, but they are actually very docile creatures.Cownose rays school and migrate in large groups, sometimes up to thousands of individuals.