The sandy ray (Leucoraja circularis) or sandy skate[2] is a species of ray in the family Rajidae.[3][4]
| Sandy ray | |
|---|---|
| |
| Illustration of dorsal surface, Jonathan Couch | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Rajidae |
| Genus: | Leucoraja |
| Species: | L. circularis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Leucoraja circularis (Couch, 1838)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Raia circularis | |
Description
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It maximum length is 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in), typical adults measuring 70 cm (2.3 ft). It has a short snout with a spinulose reddish-brown dorsal surface, a tail only slightly longer than body, and a white underside. A distinctive feature is the 4–6 creamy-coloured spots on each wing.[5]
Habitat
editThe sandy ray lives in the demersal zone of the offshore waters of Western Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, at depths between 70 m (230 ft) and 676 m (2,218 ft).[6] According to the FAO this species should be considered extinct in Mediterranean Sea, but recent records contradict this view.[7]
Behaviour
editThe sandy ray lays its eggs between August and November and feeds on benthic invertebrates and small bony fish.[8]
References
edit
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Leucoraja circularis". FishBase. June 2021 version.
- ^ International), Sonja Fordham (Shark Advocates; Group), Jim Ellis (IUCN SSC Shark Specialist; Group), Rachel Walls (IUCN SSC Shark Specialist; McCully, Sophy (October 30, 2014). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Leucoraja circularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- ^ Carrier, Jeffrey C.; Musick, John A.; Heithaus, Michael R. (March 9, 2010). Sharks and Their Relatives II: Biodiversity, Adaptive Physiology, and Conservation. CRC Press. ISBN 9781420080483 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Leucoraja circularis, Sandy ray : Fisheries".
- ^ "sandy-ray-leucoraja-circularis-the-shark-trust". yumpu.com.
- ^ "MarLIN - The Marine Life Information Network - Sandy ray (Leucoraja circularis)". www.marlin.ac.uk.
- ^ "Leucoraja circularis, Sandy ray : fisheries". www.fishbase.se. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ Guide of Mediterranean Skates and Rays (Leucoraja circularis). Oct. 2022. Mendez L., Bacquet A. and F. Briand. https://ciesm.org/marine/programs/skatesandrays/leucoraja-circularis/
- ^ Last, Peter; Naylor, Gavin; Séret, Bernard; White, William; Stehmann, Matthias; Carvalho, Marcelo de (December 1, 2016). Rays of the World. Csiro Publishing. ISBN 9780643109155 – via Google Books.
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