Javanese Cownose Ray Rhinoptera javanica

The Javanese Cownose Ray, also called the Flapnose, is native to sandy coasts, mangroves and estuaries of the Indo-Pacific. They travel in groups along coasts flapping their wings on the sand to expose shellfish.

It has an indented snout with two lobes giving the cownose name. The pectoral fins (wings) do not cover the head, unlike those of stingrays. However, the tail does have a venomous spine near the body, like those of stingrays. It can grow to over a metre wide, but much smaller than the Broad Stingray and Reef Manta above. It is endangered, with large population declines mainly by fishing, intentionally or as bycatch.