Spotted ray
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Rajidae
Genus: Raja
Species:
R. montagui
Binomial name
Raja montagui
Fowler, 1910
Synonyms[2]
  • Raia maculata Montagu, 1818

The spotted ray or spotted skate (Raja montagui) is a species of skate in the family Rajidae.[3][4]

Distribution

The Spotted ray is found in the Atlantic Ocean from the Irish Sea to Morocco and in the Mediterranean as well.[5]

Description

Photograph

Like all rays, the spotted ray has a flattened body with broad, wing-like pectoral fins. The body is sub-rhomboid. The dorsum is brown with dark spots.

Its maximum length is 80 cm (2.6 ft), making it one of the smallest skates.[6]

Behaviour

The spotted ray buries itself in sand to ambush prey and avoid predators. It mainly feeds on crustaceans, polychaetes, teleosts and molluscs.[7][8]

Life cycle

Spotted ray egg case

Spotted rays are oviparous with eggs laid in summer. The pups hatch fully formed, about 11.5 cm (4.5 in) long, after 5 or 6 months.[8]

See also

  • Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
  • Fish of the Mediterranean Sea

References

  1. ↑ "IUCN | Raja montagui". www.iucn.it.
  2. ↑ "Raja montagui". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "Bilješke". Institut za oceanografiju i ribarstvo - Split. June 27, 1974 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ "Changes in the North Sea Ecosystem and Their Causes: Århus 1975 Revisited : Proceedings of an ICES International Symposium Held in Århus, Denmark, 11-14 July 1995". International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. June 27, 1996 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Guide of Mediterranean Skates and Rays (Raja montagui). Oct. 2022. Mendez L., Bacquet A. and F. Briand. http://www.ciesm.org/Guide/skatesandrays/raja-montagui
  6. ↑ "Spotted ray | The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org.
  7. ↑ "MarLIN - The Marine Life Information Network - Spotted Ray (Raja montagui)". www.marlin.ac.uk.
  8. 1 2 "Raja montagui, Spotted ray : fisheries". www.fishbase.se.
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