Comparative morphology and anatomy of the new world rhinopterid rays

The extant rhinopterid (cownose) rays are a morphologically conservative group. Species within this family resemble each other so closely as to be practically indistinguishable. There are currently two valid species of Rhinoptera in the western Atlantic Ocean and one in the eastern Pacific. However, recent studies have suggested the presence of at least a single new species in the eastern Pacific as well as a possible third species in the western Atlantic. This project will continue ongoing investigations into the comparative morphology and anatomy of cownose rays inhabiting the waters off of North and South America and is part of a larger taxonomic revision of the Rhinoptera genus incorporating these and associated genetic and biogeographic data.