Sandy ray

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
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
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 Raja circularis Raja falsavela Raja falsavela intermedia Raja falsavela maggiore Raja (Leucoraja) circularis

Description

Diagram from The fishes of Great Britain and Ireland (1884)

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

The 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

The sandy ray lays its eggs between August and November and feeds on benthic invertebrates and small bony fish.^[8]