Bullnose Ray

Identification

The bullnose ray has broad, pointed wings and a projecting, rounded snout. Its upper surface is generally gray to brown and its underside pale. A long, whip-like tail trails behind the disc. Because several Florida rays have wing-shaped bodies, identify the head shape and fin arrangement rather than assigning a name from silhouette alone. Do not handle a ray to examine its mouth or underside.

Range, habitat and size

The Florida Museum account documents a western Atlantic range reaching southeastern Florida. That supports inclusion in a regional guide but not a claim that it is common at any particular dive site. The ray uses coastal and estuarine habitat and may cruise above the bottom while searching for food. The museum reports a maximum disc width of 100 cm. Disc width measures across the wings; it excludes the long tail and is not total body length.

Feeding and reproduction

Bottom-dwelling mollusks and crustaceans are important prey. The ray searches close to sediment and can expose buried animals before crushing them with plate-like teeth. Young develop inside the female and are born alive. Embryos receive nourishment from yolk and additional maternal secretions. The species does not deposit the external egg cases associated with many skates.

Responsible observation

Keep enough distance that the ray can continue its course. Avoid chasing, cornering or feeding it, and never grab its wings or tail. When photographing a resting or feeding animal, maintain buoyancy and keep fins clear of the sediment. A useful identification photograph records natural behavior without forcing the animal to move.

No species-specific harvest allowance has been established for this profile. Do not interpret that gap as permission. Check the current species, gear and location requirements through FWC’s saltwater regulations before any proposed collection. This wildlife guide is not a food-safety recommendation.

Quick quiz

• What does a 100 cm disc width measure? The span across the body, not nose to tail.
• What helps process hard prey? Flattened crushing teeth.
• Does it leave an egg case on the seabed? No. It gives birth to live young.

Current observation and collection guidance

This identification guide does not establish permission to collect or harvest this species. Check current FWC rules for Florida waters and possession or landing in Florida, and applicable federal rules for fishing in federal waters. Those jurisdictions are not interchangeable. Biscayne National Park and Florida Keys sanctuary zones can impose additional restrictions or closures. Verify the exact species, location and activity before any proposed take; no food-safety recommendation is made here. FWC recreational saltwater fishing regulations FWC recreational fishing maps FWC guidance for species without individual bag limits Florida shark rule 68B-44.004 Florida Administrative Register notice 30356458 Biscayne National Park fishing regulations Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary regulations

Blue Heron Bridge report

REEF’s Blue Heron Bridge / Phil Foster Park survey report includes Bullnose ray among species reported at this site. The cumulative volunteer survey record is not a guarantee of a sighting or evidence of current abundance. Blue Heron Bridge (BHB) is a Riviera Beach dive site at Phil Foster Park. Site-specific observation source.

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