Cownose rays have made their first ever appearance at the Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park and Tower, a species renowned for their close formation synchronised swimming, which in the wild enables them to better stir up sediment and expose buried clams and oysters.
The five six month-old tropical rays have a ‘dark sheep’ in their midst however, as one of them refuses to take up position with the other four and instead does his best to disrupt their own graceful hydrobatics.
“He’s actually a darker colour than the other four as well,” said Senior Aquarist Sarah Everett. “We’ve christened him ‘Maverick’ in recognition of his independent nature.”
The four rays, currently about a foot across but capable of reaching three times that size, are starring in a newly created Ray Lagoon feature, a large tank which they share with an assortment of sharks including bonnetheads and bamboo sharks, and a variety of tropical fish.
Happily for visitors the four paler rays do occasionally escape their tormentor long enough to perform the odd ballet-like synchronised manoeuvre before Maverick returns to plough through their midst.
Given the name ‘cownose’ because of bovine-like broad head and wide-set eyes, they have powerful flattened dental plates designed for crushing shellfish. They are members of the eagle ray family, and each has a stinging spine positioned at the base of its tail. If attacked, they will whip up their tails scorpion-fashion to inflict a sting similar in potency to a bee sting.
“They’re absolutely amazing to watch, in spite of Maverick’s antics,” said Sarah.
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