Lusitanian cownose ray | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Order: | Myliobatiformes |
Family: | Myliobatidae |
Genus: | Rhinoptera |
Species: | R. marginata |
Binomial name | |
Rhinoptera marginata (Saint-Hilaire, 1817) |
The Lusitanian cownose ray (Rhinoptera marginata) is a species of eagle ray found along the western coast of Africa and Mediterranean Sea. It is apparently very rare in the Mediterranean Sea, but is common in shallow waters off the western Africa.
Its maximum width is 2 m (6.6 ft).
It is found in the Eastern Atlantic from southern Spain to Senegal, including the Mediterranean.
They exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures.