The Golden Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera steindachneri) is a species of eagle ray found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It’s notable for its its broad, wing-like pectoral fins and distinctive deeply notched snout that resembles a cow’s nose. Its body forms a wide, diamond-shaped disc that is typically golden-brown to bronze on the upper surface. Adults can reach around one meter in disc width and have a long, whip-like tail armed with one or two serrated venomous spines near the base for defense. This species inhabits shallow coastal waters, including bays, estuaries, sandy flats, and reef edges, where it feeds on hard-shelled benthic prey such as clams, snails, and crustaceans, which it crushes with strong dental plates. Golden cownose rays are highly social, often swimming in large schools and occasionally leaping from the water.