HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishCownose ray Cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) Scientific name: Rhinoptera bonasus Mitchill, 1815 The Cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Myliobatidae. BiologyDeep grove around front of head below eyes; forehead above groove indented, snout below groove is distinctly bilobed. Disk brown to olive above, with no spots or marks, wings long and pointed. Lower surface white or yellowish white.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameRhinoptera bonasusFamilyMyliobatidae (Eagle and manta rays)OrderRajiformes (Skates and Rays)ClassElasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)Maximum length213Common length120Depth range0–22 m (0–72 ft)EnvironmentMarine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 22 mClimateTropicalDistributionEastern Atlantic: Mauritania, Senegal and Guinea. Western Atlantic: southern New England to northern Florida (USA) and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, migrating to Trinidad, Venezuela, Brazil and Uruguay.Conservation status (IUCN)Near Threatened (NT)Threat to humansTraumatogenicUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be More other freshwater fishSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaLined soleAchirus lineatusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026