Короткорылый скат: описание и распространение.

Species of cartilaginous fish
the ray common in the western Atlantic

The cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) is a species of Batoidea found throughout a large part of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, from New England to southern Brazil (the East Atlantic populations are now generally considered a separate species, the Lusitanian cownose ray (R. marginata)). These rays also belong to the order Myliobatiformes, a group that is shared by bat rays, manta rays, and eagle rays. Cownose rays prefer to live in shallower, coastal waters or estuaries. Rays feed upon organisms with harder shells, such as clams, crustaceans, or mollusks. There are not many conservation strategies or efforts for cownose rays.

The genus name Rhinoptera is named for the Ancient Greek words for nose (rhinos) and wing (pteron). The species name bonasus comes from the Ancient Greek for bison (bonasos).

A cownose ray is typically brown backed with a slightly white or yellow belly. Although its coloration is not particularly distinctive, its shape is easily recognizable. It has a broad head with wide set eyes, and a pair of distinctive lobes on its subrostral fin. It also has a set of dental plates designed for crushing clams and oyster shells. Male rays often reach about 2.5 feet (1 m) in width, while females typically reach about 3 feet (1 m) in width. When threatened the cownose ray can use the barb at the base of its tail to defend itself from the threat.

Cownose rays are migratory and social creatures and reside on the east coast of the United States, Brazil, as well as in the Gulf of Mexico. This allows for the rays to have the potential to live in a wider range of habitats if one area gets too crowded and competition for resources is high. Their feeding occurs in the benthic zone, or at the bottom of the ocean.

Cownose rays breed from April through October. Their migration pattern consists of rays moving north in late Spring and moving south in late Fall. The overfishing is due to the perception that rays destroy oyster beds meant for the shellfish industry. There are not many conservation strategies or efforts for cownose rays, besides the fact that cownose ray killing contests have been banned in the state of Maryland. There is also a risk associated with eating meat from the sea animal that has not been prepared correctly. Shigella may be acquired from eating meat from a cownose ray that has been contaminated with the bacteria. This bacteria causes shigellosis, and can result in dysentery. Symptoms can include diarrhea, pain, fever, and possible dehydration.