Cownose ray

The cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) is a large, migratory eagle ray of the western Atlantic. Its head has two lobes separated by a deep notch, resembling a cow’s nose.

Eagle ray: An eagle ray is a cartilaginous fish with winglike pectoral fins and a protruding head. The cownose ray belongs to this family of broad-winged rays.
Bivalve: A bivalve is a mollusk enclosed by two hinged shells, such as a clam or oyster. Bivalves are major prey for cownose rays, which crush their shells.
Chesapeake Bay: Chesapeake Bay is a large Atlantic estuary on the coasts of Maryland and Virginia. Cownose rays migrate into the bay each spring to feed and reproduce.
Bat ray: The bat ray (Myliobatis californica) is an eagle ray found mainly in the eastern Pacific. It resembles the cownose ray in winglike fins but lives on the opposite coast of North America.
Cartilaginous fish: A cartilaginous fish has a skeleton made primarily of cartilage rather than bone. Its skeletal structure places the cownose ray among sharks, skates, and rays.
Estuary: An estuary is a coastal area where freshwater from rivers mixes with seawater. Cownose rays use estuaries as feeding and nursery habitat.
Cownose ray migration in Chesapeake Bay: Cownose ray migration in Chesapeake Bay is a seasonal movement into the estuary and back toward southern waters. This recurring movement is one of the best-documented regional patterns for the species.
Spotted eagle ray: The spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) is a tropical and subtropical ray marked with white spots. Its spotted back and different head shape distinguish it from the cownose ray.
Cephalic fin: A cephalic fin is a paired, forward-projecting lobe formed from a ray's pectoral fins. Its distinctive head lobes help direct prey toward the mouth.
Migration: Migration is the regular movement of animals between locations, often linked to seasons or life stages. Seasonal migrations carry cownose rays along the western Atlantic coast.

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