Blonde ray
Blonde ray | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Order: | Rajiformes |
Family: | Rajidae |
Genus: | Raja |
Species: | R. brachyura
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Binomial name | |
Raja brachyura Lafont, 1871
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Synonyms[2] | |
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The blonde ray or blonde skate (Raja brachyura) is a species of ray fish in the family Rajidae.[2][3]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Raia_brachyura_1871.jpg/220px-Raia_brachyura_1871.jpg)
1873 sketch by the describer, A. Lafont[4]
Scientist releasing a tagged blonde ray during fieldwork
Distribution[]
The blonde ray lives in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, at depths of 10–380 m (33–1,247 ft).
Description[]
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).[5]
Life cycle[]
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.[6]
Human use[]
Blonde rays are currently fished for human consumption, with a record weight of 37 lb (17 kg) recorded in Cobh, Ireland in 2008.[7][8]
See also[]
- Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
- Fish of the Mediterranean Sea
References[]
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Raja brachyura". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ Museum, British Columbia Provincial (26 June 1953). "Report of the Provincial Museum of Natural History" – via Google Books.
- ^ Lafont, A. (1873). "Raja brachyura". shark-references.com. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "MarLIN – The Marine Life Information Network – Blonde ray (Raja brachyura)". www.marlin.ac.uk.
- ^ "Sport Fishery Abstracts". Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 26 June 1978 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Ray – Blonde (Raja brachyura)". specimenfish.ie. Irish Specimen Fish Committee. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
External links[]
Data related to Raja brachyura at Wikispecies
- Fishbase Database: Raja brachyura
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raja brachyura. |
Categories:
- IUCN Red List near threatened species
- Raja (fish)
- Fish of the East Atlantic
- Fish of the Mediterranean Sea
- Fish of the North Sea
- Near threatened biota of Africa
- Near threatened biota of Europe
- Fish described in 1871