The Cow Nose Stingray

                                                               Rhinoptera bonasus

Elise Coby

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/31/f6/77/31f67790caedfa5a0703b916afc35d60.jpg

Introduction:

The Cownose stingray is a great fascination of mine amongst many other rays, but what is most notable to me about these creatures is their ability to physically jump out of the water and travel in depths of up to 72 feet of tropical waters. What I find curious is the use of their electroreceptors located on their snout along with an exceptional sense of touch and smell. 

What I hope to find:

Upon researching the Cownose ray, I hope to find out the following information:

1. Behavioral patterns and venom (do they sting/ interactions)
2. Migration patterns
3. Electroreceptors 
4. Predation
5. Current studies 
   
6. Ending questions 

Interesting anatomical features:

-Pectoral fins

-Spiracles 

-Hyosticlic jaw 

Behavioral patterns and venom:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f7/f1/cb/f7f1cbd23687ca487a2cd8a5ede395d2.jpg

Low moderate risk to humans (as per most rays), they will lash tail when aggravated or feel threatened which can whip anything it the tails path. Defensive mechanism of a barb, which can sting aggressor. The sting is strong enough to produce a painful wound that needs to be treated by a medical professional, although the sting is not generally fatal, it can be if a barb stings the abdomen. Correspondingly, the consumption of the rays meat may cause health disruptions if it is not prepared correctly, known as "shigella" (an anaerobic bacteria), which can be consumed upon eating infected ray meat upon contamination. The bacteria can cause intentional infection which can result in a reaction of fever, dehydration, and pain. Reproduction is dependent upon the electrical signals given off by females. Before mating, social groups are established and then ordered into a seven-month mating period. The behavior between male and female rays during this period is generally aggressive in interaction including behaviors such as biting and close following. They can produce litters ranging from five to 13. 

Migration patterns : 

The stingray's pectoral fins are imperative to migration. The long, thin pectoral fins are adapted for faster speeds (oscillation mobility)

Predation:

The rays feed on shellfish, lobster, crabs, and fish. Using their electroreceptors located on their snouts, they can seek out their food sources. To seek out their prey, they stir up the sand or mud beneath them using their wingtips or noses and once the prey is found, they rapidly flap their wings to move the mud or sand to the side. From here, the rays suck water and sand directly into their mouths and blow it out through their gills to create a depression in the sand that allows for easier access to their prey. Their strong teeth allow them to crunch through hard-shelled prey but only ingest the soft body parts. 

Migration study done by Smithsonian (2018)

-Summer and Winter Habitats Pinned Down in Longest Cownose Ray Migration Study on Atlantic

Ray activity level (2012)

-Differences in activity level  between cownose rays (Jeffrey M Grim , A Adam Ding, Wayne A Bennett)

Effects of overfishing study by Scientists at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Md (2018)

-Maligned cownose ray could be vulnerable to overfishing

Ending questions:

-What will the cownose ray population look like in a few years?

-How will/ is the population adapting to global warming?

-What can be done to ensure population safety to protect from overfishing?

-Is shigella infection controllable amongst the rays?

-How can Shigella bacteria spread

-What traits are inherited from offspring? 

Works Cited:

Minogue, K. (2018, August 23). Cownose Ray. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.chesapeakebay.net/S=0/fieldguide/critter/cownose_ray

Dance, S. (2018, August 30). Maligned cownose ray could be vulnerable to overfishing, study suggests. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/study-suggests-maligned-cownose-ray-could-be-vulnerable-to-overfishing/2018/08/29/c6706d6e-a724-11e8-8fac-12e98c13528d_story.html

Montereybayaquarium.org. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/cownose-ray

Kittle, K. (2018, April 30). Rhinoptera bonasus. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/rhinoptera-bonasus/

Cownose Ray Species Information. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.vims.edu/research/departments/fisheries/programs/multispecies_fisheries_research/species_data/cownose/index.php