A new study has uncovered an unexpected function of the cownose ray’s long, thin tail — it acts as a highly sensitive antenna, detecting water movement and potential threats in its surroundings! Conducted by marine biologists Dr. Júlia Chaumel and Professor George Lauder at Harvard University, the research challenges prior assumptions about the tail’s role and provides insight into the evolutionary adaptations of these unique rays. Unlike their stingray relatives, which wield venomous barbs for defense, cownose rays lack such weaponry. This has long led scientists to question why their tails are so elongated and seemingly unutilized for movement or attack. “Understanding the tail anatomy in cownose rays lays the groundwork for future comparative studies of tail anatomy in other ray species with diverse ecologies, as well as behavioural and biomechanical analyses of tail function during locomotion,” Chaumel and Lauder argue in their paper.
Commonly known as the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus is a species of ray found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from the Gulf of Mexico to the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. Recognizable by its distinctive, triangular-shaped pectoral fins that resemble the shape of a cow’s nose, this species typically has a smooth gray or brownish back and a pale underside. Cownose rays are known for their migratory behavior, often forming large schools that move in unison through coastal waters, especially during warmer months. They are bottom-feeding animals, primarily consuming shellfish, crabs, and other invertebrates, which they crush with their flattened, specialized teeth.
The duo began by observing cownose rays in action, analyzing footage of them swimming, feeding, and encountering threats. They found that the rays did not appear to use their tails in response to predators. What about feeding? No, not used while foraging on shellfish, either. The next step involved examining preserved specimens from the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology and two recently deceased cownose rays. Dissections and CT scans revealed that the tails were riddled with tiny holes connected to a lateral line canal—an intricate system of sensory organs found in many fish and amphibians. This lateral line, which extended through the tail and into the skin, suggested a striking new function: rather than propulsion or defense, their tail is a specialized sensory organ!
Much like a finely tuned antenna, the cownose ray’s tail detects water disturbances. This may potentially alert the ray to the presence of a predator, such as a shark approaching from behind. It makes sense. Cownose rays often bury their faces in the sand while hunting for shellfish, so their ability to sense what’s happening around them — especially out of their line of sight — is handy for their survival. This also aligns with the lifestyle of these rays, which, unlike bottom-dwelling stingrays, live in the open ocean and migrate over vast distances. Heightened sensory perception could be essential for avoiding predators and navigating the complex underwater landscape the ocean is.
While stingrays wield their tails as weapons, and manta rays appear to use them minimally, the cownose ray has turned its tail into a sophisticated detection system. These findings raise new questions about other species of rays with similarly elongated tails. Could they, too, possess hidden sensory functions? This discovery shows that even familiar animals may still hold surprising secrets beneath the surface and future research may reveal even more about how different ray species interact with their environment.
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