Introduction

Recent works are followed here in recognising the Rhinopteridae as a family see (Last & Stevens 2009, Last et al. 2016). Previously, the group was treated as a subfamiily of the Myliobatidae (Nelson 1994, 2006; Hoese et al. 2006). Nelson et al. (2016) also treated it as a subfamily. Currently, one genus and 8 species are recognised worldwide, with two known from Australia (Last & Stevens 2009, Last et al. 2016). The group is found worldwide in warm seas in coastal areas. They are pelagic filter feeders.

Maximum size is about 1.5 m disc width or 1 m body length.

General References

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing : Australia Part 1, pp. xxiv 1–670; Part 2, pp. xxi 671–1472; Part 3, pp. xxi 1473–2178. [205]

Last, P.R., White, W.T. & Jones, C.M. 2016. Family Rhinopteridae. pp. 732-740 in Last, P.R., White, W.T., Carvalho, M.R. de, Séret, B., Stehmann, M.F.W. & Naylor, G.J.P. (eds.). Rays of the World. Clayton South, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 790 pp.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C. & Wilson, M.V.H. 2016. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons 5, 752 pp.

History of changes

• Rhinoptera Cuvier, G.L. 1829. Le Règne Animal Distribué d'après son Organisation, pour servir de base à l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction à l'anatomie comparée. Poissons. Paris : Fortin, Masson et Co. Vol. 2 Nouvelle édition, pp. 122-406. [401].

  Type species:

   Myliobatis marginata Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1829 by subsequent designation, see Bonaparte, C.L.P. 1838. Selachorum tabula analytica. Nuovi Annali delle Scienze Naturali. Bologna 2: 195-214 [201].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Circumglobal.

IMCRA

Timor Province (2), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands, Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

General References

Last, P.R., White, W.T. & Jones, C.M. 2016. Family Rhinopteridae. pp. 732-740 in Last, P.R., White, W.T., Carvalho, M.R. de, Séret, B., Stehmann, M.F.W. & Naylor, G.J.P. (eds.). Rays of the World. Clayton South, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 790 pp.

History of changes

• Rhinoptera javanica Müller, J. & Henle, F.G.J. 1841. Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. Berlin : Veit & Co. pp. 103-200 pls. [182].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) MNHP 2450, Java, Indonesia and coast of Malabar, India; MNHP 3478, Java, Indonesia and coast of Malabar, India; RMNH, Java, Indonesia and coast of Malabar, India.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Darwin, NT to Innisfail, QLD; tropical, east-Indo-west Pacific

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Continental shelf, inshore, marine, pelagic.

Extra Ecological Information

Inshore to 20 m

General References

Compagno, L.J.V. & Last, P.R. 1999. Families Gymnuridae, Myliobatidae, Rhinopteridae, Mobulidae. pp. 1505-1529 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1522] (listed as possibly Australia)

Last, P.R., White, W.T. & Jones, C.M. 2016. Family Rhinopteridae. pp. 732-740 in Last, P.R., White, W.T., Carvalho, M.R. de, Séret, B., Stehmann, M.F.W. & Naylor, G.J.P. (eds.). Rays of the World. Clayton South, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 790 pp. [735]

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp. [475]

Common Name References

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp. [475] (Javanese Cownose Ray)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Javanese Cownose Ray)

Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Standard names of Australian fishes. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper 9: 1-64 [18] (Javanese Cownose Ray)

History of changes

• Rhinoptera neglecta Ogilby, J.D. 1912. On some Queensland fishes. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 1: 26-65 2 figs pls 13-14 [32].

  Type data:

   Holotype QM (specimen now apparently lost), Moreton Bay, QLD.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Off Arnhem Land, NT, and Cairns, QLD to Newcastle, NSW (32º56´S), and Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, WA; tropical, New Guinea.

IMCRA

Timor Province (2), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands, Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Continental shelf, inshore, marine, pelagic, soft bottom.

General References

Allen, G.R., Cross, N.J., Douglass F. Hoese & Bray, Dianne, J. 2006. Myliobatidae. pp. 205-209 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [209]

Compagno, L.J.V. & Last, P.R. 1999. Families Gymnuridae, Myliobatidae, Rhinopteridae, Mobulidae. pp. 1505-1529 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1523]

Last, P.R., White, W.T. & Jones, C.M. 2016. Family Rhinopteridae. pp. 732-740 in Last, P.R., White, W.T., Carvalho, M.R. de, Séret, B., Stehmann, M.F.W. & Naylor, G.J.P. (eds.). Rays of the World. Clayton South, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing 790 pp. [738]

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. [456]

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [30]

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [19] (138)

Paxton, J.R., Hoese, D.F., Allen, G.R. & Hanley, J.E. (eds) 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Pisces: Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 7 665 pp. [50]

Stead, D.G. 1963. Sharks and Rays of Australian Seas. Sydney : Angus & Robertson 211 pp. 63 figs. [182]

Whitley, G.P. 1940. The Fishes of Australia. Part 1. The sharks, rays, devil-fish, and other primitive fishes of Australia and New Zealand. Sydney : Roy. Zool. Soc. N.S.W. 280 pp. 303 figs. [225]

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [34] (161)

Common Name References

Compagno, L.J.V. & Last, P.R. 1999. Families Gymnuridae, Myliobatidae, Rhinopteridae, Mobulidae. pp. 1505-1529 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1523] (Australian Cownose Ray)

Daley, R.K., Stevens, J.D., Last, P.R. & Yearsley, G.K. 2002. Field Guide to Australian Sharks & Rays. Hobart : CSIRO Marine Research 84 pp. [44] (Cowray)

Grant, E.M. 1975. Guide to Fishes. Brisbane : Queensland Government, Co-ordinator General’s Department 640 pp. [68] (Cow-ray, Javanese Cow-ray)

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. [546] (Australian Cownose Ray, Flapray)

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [19] (Cow Ray, Cow-nose Ray)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Australian Cownose Ray)

Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Standard names of Australian fishes. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper 9: 1-64 [18] (Australian Cownose Ray)

History of changes