Key West Aquarium

Our new family of cow nose rays have arrived. They will be making their home in Stingray Bay, a new hands-on exhibit where visitors can feed and pet the rays. Cow nose rays have are very friendly and docile and making them perfect for Stingray Bay. The cow nose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) is a member of the eagle ray family (Myliobatidae) that includes bull rays and the largest of all rays, the manta ray. Members of the eagle ray family differ from other rays by having longer tails and rhomboidal bodies. Cow nose rays are found throughout a large part of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, from New England to southern Brazil. They grow rapidly, and male rays often reach about 35 inches in width and weigh 26 pounds. Females are slightly smaller reaching a size of 28 inches in width and weigh 36 pounds. The cow nose ray is typically brown-backed with a whitish or yellowish belly and has very recognizable shape. It has a broad head with wide-set eyes, and a pair of distinctive lobes on its subrostral fin. It also has a set of dental plates designed for crushing clams and oyster shells. Most all rays, except for manta and porcupine rays, have venomous spines at the end of their tails that are used exclusively for self defense. Our cow nose rays have been de-barbed. The barbs do grow back in about six months, and when they do, the rays will have their barbs removed. This procedure causes no harm to the ray. We invite you to come visit the newest members of the Key West Aquarium family. In the coming months, we will have a contest on our Facebook page to name them.