Blonde ray

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

Blonde ray
Scientific classification
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

Distribution

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

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

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

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

References
  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. "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.
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