Tails aren’t just animal accessories. They usually carry specific functions. But when it comes to rays, their function has been somewhat mysterious until now. Cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) — like ...

Commonly known as the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus is a species of ray found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from the Gulf of Mexico to the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. Recognizable by ...

Tails are vital for animals. They help with balance and communication. Some animals have long tails. These tails aid in flight and movement. They also attract mates. Tails can defend against predators ...

Both males and females of many avian species maintain elaborate plumage traits, and elaborate monomorphic plumage may convey adaptive benefits to one or both sexes as inter- or intraspecific signals.

It turns out that, like the antennas on an insect or crustacean, a ray uses its tail to sense its environment. The inside of a myliobatid stingray tail is remarkably complex, the scientists learned.