The Cownose Ray in Our Bay
By Kayla Walker
The species found in our bay are endless, but one unique creature is the Cownose ray. This type of stingray is important to the ecosystem and has an interesting relationship with humans that also inhabit the bay. In the Tampa Bay area, you may see one swimming by, or even hundreds in a group called a fever!
The Cownose ray is actually a fish. The physical characteristics of these fish contribute to their very unique name. Their long and pointed pectoral fins separate into two lobes, creating a notched head, which looks like a cow's nose. Countershading is a special adaptation that they have developed to help camouflage from predators. The top side of their bodies are darker and the undersides are lighter. The light side blends with the water and sunlight when seen from below, and the dark side blends with the substrate or deeper water when seen from above. Additionally, they have flat tile-like teeth for crushing hard prey, such as mollusks. They have a very detailed and perfected way of eating. To eat, their pectoral fins stir up sediment. The sediment and water are sucked through their gills. Once the prey is uncovered they then use their flat tile-like teeth to break the hard shells, spit it out, and eat the remaining soft bodies. They act as a habitat engineer for small invertebrates and create microhabitats due to their feeding methods.
When it comes to their relationship with humans, many misconceptions make people fear them more than is necessary. Cownose rays are very shy and nonthreatening around humans. They swim at the surface so it is unlikely to step on them or their barb. Their long wingtips break the surface when swimming and are often mistaken for shark fins. These creatures play an important role in the bay, as well as add biodiversity and beauty. We want to ensure that they can survive here and remain in this habitat. This species is vulnerable to bycatch and pollution, especially because of its low offspring rate. You can help by reducing waste that can end up in the bay, and purchasing from sustainable fisheries.
