Rhinoptera bonasus

(Mitchill, 1815)

Vernacular names
English : Cownose ray
French : Mourine américaine

Classification
Class : Elasmobranchii
Order : Myliobatiformes
Family : Myliobatidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to a total length of 2 m for a disk width of 1 m. Large triangular wing-like fins, long thin tail. Snout is wide and bi-lobed with a deep groove between the two lobes. Coloration is dark grey-brown, underside is clear

Range and habitat
The species lives in eastern Atlantic Ocean, from Mauritania to Guinea, and western Atlantic from south Canada to Gulf of Mexico, south to Brazil. Lives in oceanic, sometimes near coasts, including estuaries, down to 22 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species could quickly become threatened is a fishery is created for this species. Vulnerable to overfishing, fishing pressure, loss of habitat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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