Raja clavata Linnaeus, 1758

Thornback ray

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Elasmobranchii \| Rajiformes \| Rajidae
Synonyms	Cephaleutherus maculatus, Hieroptera abredonensis, Raia aspera, ... more
Common names	Raie bouclée, Raya de clavos, Thornback, ... more

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

McEachran, J.D. and K.A. Dunn. 1998. (Ref. 27314)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : McEachran, John | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 105 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6014); 120 cm TL (female); common length : 85.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9987); max. published weight: 18.0 kg (Ref. 35388); max. reported age: 12 years (Ref. 72473)

Environment

Demersal; marine; depth range 20 - 577 m (Ref. 56504)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 70°N - 29°S, 25°W - 42°E

Eastern Atlantic: Iceland, Norway, North Sea and the western Baltic southward to Morocco and Namibia, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Although reported from southern Africa, its status in the area is uncertain (Ref. 5578).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Upper surfaces wholly prickly, underside wholly prickly in large females, only snout and margins of disc in young and large males; orbital thorns separate, 30-50 in median row from nape to first dorsal fin; additional large 'buckler' thorns with swollen bases scattered on upper surface of disc in adults (Ref. 3167). Sub rhomboid disc, disc-width 1,25 to 1,36 times in its length, its length 1,70 to 1,83 times in total length; short rostrum, rounded at his extremity; pectoral fins with clear angles on lateral side; triangular pelvic fins (Ref. 39246). Upper surface very variable, all shades of brown, variegated with dark and light spots and blotches, underside white (Ref. 3167).

Inhabit shelf and upper slope waters from the coastal line to about 300 m. Depth range from 20-300 m (Ref. 4426), and from 300-577 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Found on sand and sand-rock bottoms (Ref. 6808). Feed on all kinds of bottom animals, preferably crustaceans (Ref. 3167). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). Egg capsules are 5.0-9.0 cm long and 3.4-6.8 cm wide (Ref. 41250). Utilized fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987). About 52-170 eggs are laid per individual in a year (Ref. 41250). Maximum length for male is 105 cm TL (Ref. 41333).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Lower Risk: near threatened (LR/nt)	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Biogeographic modelling \| Bio-Quiz \| E-book \| Field guide \| Identification keys \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.09-0.14; tm=10; tmax=23; Fec=150)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
High vulnerability (56 of 100)	Medium

Entered by Luna, Susan M.

Modified by Ortañez, Auda Kareen

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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