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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Observations: Estimates of age at sexual maturity range from 4.5 (Garcia et al. 2008) to 8 years (http://www.fishbase.org/). Maximum longevity has been reported as 7 years (Garcia et al. 2008), but this could be significantly underestimated.
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Brief Summary

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The spotted ray is named after the black spots on its back. With the exception of the small spines found on its 'face' and and the 50 spines in the middle of its back running to its tail, it is a very smooth ray. The facial spines on adult animals extend behind the eyes while on they are only found on the front part of the snout on young rays. Young spotted rays eat shrimp while older specimen eat larger crustaceans, worms and fish.
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Diagnostic Description

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Sub-rhomboid in shape with a short rostrum and rounded wing-tips. Upper surface almost smooth in young, but prickly in large specimens, except for bare centers of pectoral fins and hind part of disc, underside nearly smooth; orbital thorns separate, a regular row of 20-50 usually persistent thorns from nape to first dorsal fin; with 1-2 thorns between dorsal fins; 2 equal-sized dorsal fins at end of tail. Brownish dorsally with numerous small dark spots which do not reach the margin of the disc, frequently with a concentration of dark spots forming a ring around a pale centre on hind part of each pectoral fin, underside white (Ref. 3167).
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Life Cycle

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Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Paired eggs are laid during summer (Ref. 3167). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). Egg capsules are 5.3-7.8 cm long and 3.0-5.0 cm wide (Ref. 41250). Fully formed pups hatch after about 5-6 months and are about 11-12 cm in length (Ref. 78469, 88187).
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Morphology

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Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 0
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Biology

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Found mainly along the continental shelf (Ref. 3167). Depth range from 8-283 m in the northeast Atlantic (Ref. 82399), in the southern part of its range it occurs down to 530 m (Ref. 78469, 89037), but most common between 20-120 m (Ref. 88187). Prefers habitats with sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 78469). Juveniles usually found in shallow sandy inshore areas, adults utilize more offshore sand or sand-gravel habitats (Ref. 82399, 89038). Species buries itself to avoid predation and ambush potential prey. Feeds mainly on crustaceans (Ref. 3167) with prey size increasing as it grows (Ref. 88171), also preys on benthic worms, cephalopods and small fishes (Ref. 41849, 58137). Most individuals attain a length of 40-60 cm (Ref. 3261). Oviparous. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Detects weak electric fields generated by other organisms and generate its own weak electric fields (Ref. 10311).
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Importance

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fisheries: minor commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species
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Spotted ray

provided by wikipedia EN

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

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. ^ a b "Raja montagui, Spotted ray : fisheries". www.fishbase.se.

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Spotted ray: Brief Summary

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

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