- Brazilian cownose ray
Taxobox
name = Brazilian cownose ray
status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animalia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Chondrichthyes
ordo =Rajiformes
familia =Rhinopteridae
genus = "Rhinoptera "
species = "R. brasiliensis"
binomial = "Rhinoptera brasiliensis"
binomial_authority = Müller & Henle, 1841
synonyms = The Brazilian cownose ray ("Rhinoptera brasiliensis"), also commonly called the Ticon cownose ray, is a species offish in the "Rhinopteridae " family. It is anendangered species , endemic to the coasts ofBrazil . Its naturalhabitat s are shallowsea s,estuarine waters, and intertidal flats.Morphology
Males tend to range in size from 78 to 91 cm disc width (DW) with a brown back and white or light yellow belly. Females are larger, ranging from 77 to 102 cm DW with similar coloring. The Ticon Cownose Ray very closely resembles its’ cousin the
Cownose ray ("Rhinoptera Bonasus ") in both size and coloring. So close is the similarity that the only way to differenciate the two is by the number of teeth. "R. Brasiliensis" have a broader mouth allowing for three central rows of broad teeth as opposed to "R. Bonasus" one central row. [Vooren, C.M. & Lamónaca, A.F. 2004.]Reproduction
The Brazilian cownose ray is
ovoviviparous with the embryo developing in an egg kept within the female. [Torres, A.G. & Luna, S.M. 2007] The female only carries one embryo at a time. This low fecundity leads to a low species resiliency with a minimum population doubling time of 4.5 to 14 years. [Vooren, C.M. & Lamónaca, A.F. 2004.]Range and Habitat
This species is endemic to an 1800 km, restricted stretch of coastal shelf between
Rio de Janeiro andRio Grande do Sul , Brazil. The ray migrates to the southern 700 km of its range during the summer months, and is found in the shallow coastal waters just off Rio Grande do Sul. [Vooren, C.M. & Lamónaca, A.F. 2004.]Notes
ource
* Vooren, C.M. & Lamónaca, A.F. 2004. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/44595/all Rhinoptera brasiliensis] . [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Downloaded on
03 August 2007 .
*Torres, A.G. & Luna S.M. 2007. [http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=14148 Rhinoptera Brasiliensis] . [http://www.fishbase.org] . Downloaded on30 March 2007 .
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