Cownose Ray

Scientific name: Rhinoptera bonasus

Class: Fish

Continent:

, Africa

, Europe

, America

Habitat: Near Threatened

Diet: Carnivore

Size: 26 - 36 Inches

Cownose Rays Get Their Name From the Shape of Their Head

Cownose rays get their name from the shape of their head when viewed from above. Their mouths are on the bottom of their bodies as they use them to rifle through the sand and find bottom-dwelling animals to eat. They have incredibly strong jaws with plates in their mouths used to crush shellfish. They also carry a venom that is secreted through the skin cells of their spines used to protect against predators trying to take a bite out of them.

Conservation Status

Extinct

Extinct in the wild

Critically endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near threatened

Least concern

Insufficient data

Not evaluated