Blonde ray
(Raja brachyura)
Image source: Jo's Animal Database
General data
The blonde ray or blonde skate (Raja brachyura) is a species of ray fish in the family Rajidae.
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. Blonde rays look like what you would expect from their name. Light brown with a few creamy-white blotches and dense dark spots which extend up to the very edge of the disc and on the tail.
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. They are found anywhere from the western isles of Scotland to Morocco and can be found in the northern and western Mediterranean.
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0.
Upper surface wholly prickly, except in juveniles; underside only prickly along front margins of disc; orbital thorns separate; a regular median row of 40-45 thorns in juveniles and adult females, interrupted on back in males; 60-90 tooth rows; upper surface ochre, with numerous small dark spots to margins of disc, underside white.
Maximum length is 120 cm (47 in).
