Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Rhinoptera steindachneri Evermann & Jenkins, 1891

raya dorada, Gavilán Negro, Golden cow ray, golden cownose ray

Rhinoptera steindachneri, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. Photo: Paul McFarling, CDF, 2001.
Rhinoptera steindachneri, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. Photo: Paul McFarling, CDF, 2001.

Size: To about 90 cm in disc width, Back shades of golden brown to brown and grayish brown; belly white. Whip-like tail.

Habitat: Most frequently observed gliding graceully in mid- or surface waters. Sometimes in large numbers, often frequent mangrove lagoons; not common in reef areas

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Chordata

Class
Elasmobranchii

Order
Myliobatiformes

Family
Myliobatidae

Genus
Rhinoptera

Species
steindachneri

Taxon category: Accepted

Taxon origin: Native

Status

Near threatened

Distribution

Distribution: Eastern Pacific fom the Gulf of California and Mexico to Galapagos. Baja and Gulf of California to northern Peru. Galápagos and Malpelo Islands.

References

  • Grove, J.S. Lavenberg, R.J. (1997) The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. 862 pp.
  • Humann, P. Deloach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification - Galapagos. New World Publication, Inc. Florida USA & Libri Mundi, Quito, Ecuador, 226 pp.
  • Appeltans, W. Bouchet, P., Boxshall, G.A., Fauchald, K., Gordon, D.P., Hoeksema, B.W., Poore, G.C.B., van Soest, R.W.M., Stöhr, S., Walter, T.C., Costello, M.J. (eds.) (2010) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Available online at http://www.marinespecies.org.
  • IUCN (2010) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 April 2010.
  • Smith, W.D. Bizzarro, J.J. (2006) Rhinoptera steindachneri www.iucnredlist.org
  • McCosker, J.E. Rosenblatt, R.H. (2010) The fishes of the Galápagos Archipelago: an update. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sc., Ser. 4, vol. 61, Suppl. II, no. 11: 167-195.
  • Constant, P. (2007) Marine Life of the Galapagos. The Diver's guide to Fishes, Whales, Dolphins and marine Invertebrates, 307 pp.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging the origin of the data.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Rhinoptera steindachneri", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7857. Accessed 27 April 2024.