A hydrodynamic antenna: novel lateral line design in the tail of myliobatid stingrays

Eagle rays, cownose rays, and manta rays (family Myliobatidae) have a slender tail that can be longer than the animal’s body length, but its function and structure are unknown. Using histology, immunohistochemistry, and 3D imaging with micro-CT scans, we describe the anatomy and function of the tail of Rhinoptera bonasus, the cownose ray. The tail is an extension of the vertebral column with unique morphological specializations. Along the tail after the barb, vertebral centra are absent, and neural and hemal arches fuse and form a solid mineralized structure that we termed caudal synarcual which imparts passive stiffness to the tail, reducing bending. Two lateral lines extend along both sides of the tail. The lateral lines are composed of a main canal connected to an extensive network of tubules, which extends and ramifies toward the dorsal and ventral tail surfaces and opens to the surrounding water via small pores. A remarkable continuous neuromast is located within each main canal. T..., Data published in this data set was obtained throught a combination of different methods. They were applied as follows: 
1. Histology:
Histology was used to identify the different tissues and their arrangement in the tail, sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) combined with Orange G or with Mallory trichrome. Histology-stained samples were imaged using a Keyence digital microscope VHX-600 (Keyence Corporation) and a Leica light microscope (Leica Microsystems GmbH). Images were analyzed using Fiji 2.0.0.
2. Immunofluorescence imaged with Confocal and Fluorescence Microscope:
Immunofluorescence staining was used to identify nervous tissue within the tail by staining the sections with ß-III-tubulin antibody. For antigen retrieval, samples were incubated in 10 mM sodium citrate buffer with 0.05% Tween 20 (pH 6) for 6 hours at 60ºC. Samples were permeabilized in PBS with 0.025% Triton X-100 and blocked with 5% bovine serum albumin in PBS (BSA; Sigma Aldrich) for 2 hours at room t..., , # A hydrodynamic antenna: novel lateral line design in the tail of myliobatid stingrays

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jm63xsjk7](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jm63xsjk7)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset consists of raw data used for tor this manuscript. Raw data were obtained through various imaging techniques applied to *Rhinoptera bonasus'* tail samples and used in a variety of figures. The details are as follows:

**1. Histology:**

* Files: `.tif`
* Description: Raw data from histological sections stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin + Orange G or Mallory Trichrome.
* Files are named using the species name + staining used. 
* Used in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

**2. Confocal Microscopy:**

* Files: `.czi`
* Description: Samples immunolabeled with ß-III-Tubulin antibody and DAPI, imaged using a Zeiss Confocal Microscope
* Data used in Figure 5.

**3. Fluorescence Microscope**

* Files: `.jpeg & .tiff`
* Description: Samples immunolabeled with ß-III-Tubulin antibo...