Name: Bull ray, duckbill
Scientific Name: Pteromylaeus bovinus (Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1817)
Family: Myliobatidae
Group: Sharks, rays and chimaeras
Class: Fish
Size: 101-200 cm.
Besides its typical colouring, one of the bull ray's most curious characteristics is its snout in the shape of a duck bill, very useful to search for molluscs or crustaceans that live near to the bottom and are its menu. The males can also develop small horns right above their eyes. One can find them alone or in groups, in tropical and warm coasts. Though more rare, it may also appear in the open sea. Sometimes they are seen jumping above the water, in an apparent attempt to get rid of parasites or remora. Its gestation lasts around one year, ending in the birth of 3 or 4 small fully developed rays.
Global Ocean
