Fish
Thornback ray
Raja clavata
Out of season
—
Fishing zones
Wild
Origin
70 cm
Minimum size
Description
The body is sub-rhombic (diamond-shaped) with pointed wing tips. The disc is 1.25 to 1.36 times wider than it is long. Its dorsal surface is spiny. Adults have large spines called "boucles" (hence its French name) scattered across the upper surface of the disc, with swollen bases. A median row of 30 to 50 spines extends from the nape to the first dorsal fin. Its color is highly variable; the dorsal side ranges from brown to gray with light and dark spots. The underside is white. It can reach a total length of 105 cm for males and up to 139 cm for females. Its maximum recorded weight is 18 kg. It is a nocturnal species that feeds on all kinds of bottom-dwelling animals, with a preference for crustaceans (crabs, shrimp) and small fish.
Habitat
A marine and benthic species (living on the seafloor). It is found primarily on the continental shelf and the upper part of the continental slope. It is found at depths ranging from 5 to 1,020 meters, but is much more common in coastal waters between 10 and 60 meters. It prefers muddy, sandy, or gravelly bottoms and is rarer on rocky or uneven bottoms. It also tolerates low salinity levels.
Distribution
From Iceland and Norway all the way to South Africa. Found as far south as Madagascar. It is common throughout the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.