| Spotted ray | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Rajidae |
| Genus: | Raja |
| Species: | R. montagui |
| Binomial name | |
| Raja montagui Fowler, 1910 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The spotted ray or spotted skate (Raja montagui) is a species of skate in the family Rajidae.
Distribution
The Spotted ray is found in the Atlantic Ocean from the Irish Sea to Morocco and in the Mediterranean as well.
Description
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.
Behaviour
The spotted ray buries itself in sand to ambush prey and avoid predators. It mainly feeds on crustaceans, polychaetes, teleosts and molluscs.
Life cycle
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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.
See also
References
- "IUCN | Raja montagui". www.iucn.it.
- "Raja montagui". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- "Bilješke". Institut za oceanografiju i ribarstvo - Split. June 27, 1974 – via Google Books.
- "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.
- 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
- "Spotted ray | The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org.
- "MarLIN - The Marine Life Information Network - Spotted Ray (Raja montagui)". www.marlin.ac.uk.
- ^ "Raja montagui, Spotted ray : fisheries". www.fishbase.se.
External links
Data related to Raja montagui at Wikispecies- Fishbase Database: Raja montagui
