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    Blonde ray

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 5 min

    Blonde ray
    Raielisse.jpg
    Conservation status

    Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[1]
    Scientific classification edit
    Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
    Class: Chondrichthyes
    Order: Rajiformes
    Family: Rajidae
    Genus: Raja
    Species:
    R. brachyura
    Binomial name
    Raja brachyura
    Lafont, 1871
    Synonyms[2]
    • Raia blanda Holt, 1894
    • Raia brachyura Lafont, 1871
    • Raja blanda Holt, 1894

    The blonde ray or blonde skate (Raja brachyura) is a species of ray fish in the family Rajidae.[2][3]

    1873 sketch by the describer, A. Lafont[4]
    Scientist releasing a tagged blonde ray during fieldwork

    Distribution[edit]

    The Blonde ray lives in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, at depths of 10-380 m. It is found occasionally in the Mediterranean Sea as well. [5]

    Description[edit]

    Like all rays, the blonde ray has a flattened body with broad, wing-like pectoral fins. The body is kite-shaped with a short tail (hence the specific name brachyura, from Ancient Greek words meaning "short tail").

    Maximum length is 120 cm (47 in).[6]

    Life cycle[edit]

    Oviparous, with embryos feeding only on yolk. The females lay about 30 egg-cases between February and November, using shallower coastal waters as nursing-grounds.[7]

    Human use[edit]

    Blonde rays are currently fished for human consumption, with a record weight of 37 lb (17 kg) recorded in Cobh, Ireland in 2008.[8][9]

    See also[edit]

    • Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
    • Fish of the Mediterranean Sea

    References[edit]

    1. ^ Ellis, J.; Ungaro, N.; Serena, F.; Dulvy, N.K.; Tinti, F.; Bertozzi, M.; Pasolini, P.; Mancusi, C.; Noarbartolo di Sciara, G. (2009). "Raja brachyura". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T161691A5481210. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T161691A5481210.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
    2. ^ a b "Raja brachyura". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
    3. ^ Museum, British Columbia Provincial (26 June 1953). "Report of the Provincial Museum of Natural History" – via Google Books.
    4. ^ Lafont, A. (1873). "Raja brachyura". shark-references.com. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
    5. ^ Guide of Mediterranean Skates and Rays (Raja brachyura). Oct. 2022. Mendez L., Bacquet A. and F. Briand. https://ciesm.org/marine/programs/skatesandrays/raja-brachyura/
    6. ^ Serena, Fabrizio (26 June 2005). Field Identification Guide to the Sharks and Rays of the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Food & Agriculture Org. ISBN 9789251052914 – via Google Books.
    7. ^ "MarLIN – The Marine Life Information Network – Blonde ray (Raja brachyura)". www.marlin.ac.uk.
    8. ^ "Sport Fishery Abstracts". Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 26 June 1978 – via Google Books.
    9. ^ "Ray – Blonde (Raja brachyura)". specimenfish.ie. Irish Specimen Fish Committee. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

    External links[edit]

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raja brachyura.
    This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
    Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blonde ray
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