Golden Cownose Ray in Galápagos: Facts and Where to See It

Golden cownose rays are often found in schools, and sometimes swim together with spotted eagle rays. They live in a wide range of coastal waters: open and shallow seas, seagrass and other underwater beds, estuaries, marshes and coastal lagoons. In Galápagos, our guides most often record them in calm mangrove coves, seen from a panga.

• Born live. Like all eagle rays, the young develop inside the mother and are born live. Births have been recorded in May, June and July.
• Few young. They have low fecundity and are already large when they mature and when they are born.
• Relatives. Read more about the spotted eagle ray.

Guide sighting records list 3 sites:

• Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz, rated Likely: the guides note rays schooling among the mangroves, seen from a panga.
• Elizabeth Bay on Isabela, rated Possible: a panga ride, with rays in schools.
• Los Túneles on Isabela, rated Possible: a snorkelling site, with rays in schools.

The Galapagos Conservation Trust also names Elizabeth Bay and Black Turtle Cove as places to see golden rays.

The guide records list golden rays at all three sites in every month. In the next twelve months, 449 departures stop at a site where they are seen.

It is listed as Near Threatened. The main threats are overexploitation and habitat destruction, and it has few young. In the Galápagos Marine Reserve, park rules ask visitors to keep at least 2 metres (6 feet) from wildlife.

1. Talking loudly in the panga. In the mangrove coves, quiet gets you closer views.
2. Chasing a school while snorkelling. Let the rays pass; they move faster than you.
3. Confusing them with stingrays. Golden rays swim in open water in groups; stingrays rest on the bottom.