Spotted ray

The spotted ray or spotted skate 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.

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, making it one of the smallest skates.

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

Spotted rays are oviparous with eggs laid in summer. The pups hatch fully formed, about long, after 5 or 6 months.