Description: A large eagle ray. Disc transversely lozenge-shaped, about twice as wide as long, head elevated from the disc, ending in a short, bluntly rounded snout. Very long tail, with a small dorsal fin and a long serrated spine, and very thin posterior part like a whip-lash. Generally smooth, sometimes with small tubercles along the midline of the dorsal side of the disc. Seven rows of flat teeth in each jaw forming a grinding plate. Dusky bronze or almost black above; white below with brownish margins on the disc and pelvic fins; underside of the tail white from the origin to the spine; tail uniformly dark afterwards.
Global Distribution: Eastern Atlantic from the North Sea to South Africa, including Morocco, Madeira and the Canary Islands. Also throughout the Mediterranean. View Map
BIOLOGICAL FEATURES
Size: Maximum disc width 183 cm; maximum published weight 14.5 kg.
Reproduction: Ovoviviparous. Gestation period of 6-8 months, the females give birth to 3-7 young.
Maturity: range 60 - ? cm
Behavioural ecology: They are more active than other rays and can be found actively searching for prey in the sand.
Population structure & migrations:
ECOLOGICAL FEATURES
Depth range: FishBase: 1 - 300 m.
Habitat: Benthopelagic. Found in shallow lagoons, bays and estuaries; also offshore down to at least 95 m.
Feeding habits: Feeds on benthic crustaceans, molluscs and fish.
Trophic level: FishBase: 3.6
FISHERIES
Commercial interest: Minor commercial species.
Conservation status: Global: Data defficient.
Europe: Vulnerable.
Nutritional information & food safety:
REFERENCES
Ebert D.A., Stehmann M.F.W. (2013). Sharks, batoids, and chimaeras of the North Atlantic. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes, No. 7. FAO, Rome, 523 pp.
González J., Hernández C., Marrero P., Rapp E. (2000). Peces de Canarias: GuÃa Submarina (5th edition). Francisco Lemus Editor, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canarias, Spain, 235 pp.
IUCN (2014). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. www.iucnredlist.org
Nieto A., Ralph G.M., Comeros-Raynal M.T., Kemp J., GarcÃa Criado M., Allen D.J., Dulvy N.K., Walls R.H.L., Russell B., Pollard D., GarcÃa S., Craig M., Collette B.B., Pollom R., Biscoito M., Labbish Chao N., Abella A., Afonso P., Ãlvarez H., Carpenter K.E., Clò S., Cook R., Costa M.J., Delgado J., Dureuil M., Ellis J.R., Farrell E.D., Fernandes P., Florin A-B., Fordham S., Fowle, S., Gil de Sola L., Gil Herrera J., Goodpaster A., Harvey M., Heessen H., Herler J., Jung A., Karmovskaya E., Keskin C., Knudsen S.W., Kobyliansky S., KovaÄić M., Lawson J.M., Lorance P., McCully Phillips S., Munroe T., Nedreaas K., Nielsen J., Papaconstantinou C., Polidoro B., Pollock C.M., Rijnsdorp A.D., Sayer C., Scott J., Serena F., Smith-Vaniz W.F., Soldo A., Stump E., Williams J.T. (2015). Europen Red List of Marine Fishes. IUCN and European Union, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 90 pp.
