| Smalleyed ray | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Rajidae |
| Genus: | Raja |
| Species: | R. microocellata |
| Binomial name | |
| Raja microocellata Montagu, 1818 | |
The smalleyed ray or smalleyed skate (Raja microocellata) is a species of ray in the family Rajidae, the typical rays and skates, from the eastern Atlantic Ocean where it is found in tidal, coastal waters with sandy substrates.
The smalleyed ray is a smaller species of skate which can attain a total length of 87 centimetres (34 in) and a weight of 4.5 kilograms (9.9 lb). [2] It has the typical dorsoventrally flattened body of its family and had distinctively small eyes and spiracles situated on the top of its head. The snout is pointed and the tail begins from rhomboid pectoral discs. It is greyish olive to light brown in colour with lighter patches on its back, [3] there are also pale streaks which run parallel to the margins of the wings. [4] The belly is white. [2] It has spines which run along the tail and the body's midline, these are set very close together and are directed inwards at right angles. [4]
The smalleyed ray is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean from the south western waters of Great Britain and Ireland to the Rio de Oro in the Western Sahara. It is absent from the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. [2] In Britain and Ireland it is commonest in the Bristol Channel and off Ireland. [3]
The smalleyed ray is a shallow water species, they tend not to be found in water deeper than 100 metres (330 ft), [3] which prefers to hunt over substrates consisting of sand, mud and light shingle. They are known to enter estuaries. The main food of the smalleyed ray is fish, although it also likes squid. It is an ambush predator, which buries itself into the substrate from which it launches itself at prey as it comes into reach. They have also been recorded preying on other small marine animals such as worms and crustaceans when the opportunity arises, as well as scavenging on dead fish. [5] This species is oviparous and the males and females pair in an embrace to mate. The female subsequently lays 54–61 eggs, rectangular capsules 6.6–10.0 centimetres (2.6–3.9 in) in length and 4.1–6.3 centimetres (1.6–2.5 in) across, with a stiff "horn" at each corner. They are deposited in sand or muddy areas, and once hatched, the young will follow larger objects, including their mother. [2]
The smalleyed ray is locally important as a quarry species of targeted skate fisheries. It is caught using otter trawl or set-nets but it is also taken as bycatch by demersal trawler and set-net fisheries targeting other species, in wither case the smaller specimens are normally discarded. It is thought that overexploitation of larger skates, which are known to prey on the smalleyed ray, may have benefitted the populations of this species. [6]
The IUCN classify the smalleyed ray as Near Threatened because it has a restricted range with a patchy distribution with locally abundant populations which could be vulnerable to over-fishing, habitat destruction and other human-induced forms of disturbance. Although it has been assessed as Near Threatened due to suspected declines which are nearly 30% because of high levels of exploitation, the IUCN has stated that the smalleyed ray is close to meeting the criteria to change this status to Vulnerable. [1]
Raja microocellata was first formally described by the English soldier and naturalist George Montagu (1753–1815) in a paper published posthumously in 1818, the type locality was given as the south coast of Devonshire. [7] The specific name microocellata means "small-eyed" and refers to the small eyes possessed by this species. [8]
The Kessler's gudgeon is a European species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is found in the Danube and Vistula drainage basins, including parts of Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovakia, and Slovenia. It is a small fish of no economic or sporting importance. It was at one time classified as Gobio kesslerii.
The thornback ray, or thornback skate, is a species of ray fish in the family Rajidae.
The Hawaiian grouper, also known as the Hawaiian black grouper, Seale's grouper or Hapuʻupuʻu, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is endemic to Hawaii.
Ophioblennius steindachneri, the large-banded blenny or the Panamic fanged blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the eastern Pacific ocean. This species reaches a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in) SL.
The clearnose skate is a species of cartilaginous fish in the family Rajidae. R. eglanteria is also known by other common names such as the brier skate and summer skate. Clearnose skates are easily identified by the translucent patches on either side of their snouts and their mottled dorsal surface. They are found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States in shallow waters of the continental shelf.
Caulolatilus cyanops, the blackline tilefish or ocean whitefish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a tilefish belonging to the family Malacanthidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Apistus is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Apistinae, the wasp scorpionfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. Its only species is the Apistus carinatus which has the common names ocellated waspfish, bearded waspfish, longfin waspfish or ringtailed cardinalfish, has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. This species has venom bearing spines in its fins.
The streaked gurnard, also known as the African gurnard or rock gurnard, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Triglidae, the gurnards and sea robins. This fish is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and western Indian Ocean. This species is of commercial importance as a food fish.
The Cape gurnard is a species of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Triglidae, the gurnards and sea robins. This species is found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Indian Ocean. This species is of commercial importance as a food fish.
Nebris is a small genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. There are two species in the genus, one in the Western Atlantic Ocean and one in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Sebastes elongatus, the greenstriped rockfish, striped rockfish, strawberry rockfish, poinsettas, reina or serena, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
The flapper skate is a species of cartilaginous fish, a ray, belonging to the family Rajidae, the skates. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the blue skate, the combined taxon being known as the common skate. The flapper skate is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, although its range has contracted to a considerable extent due to overfishing, and it is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as Critically Endangered. It is the largest species of skate in the World.
Trachurus delagoa, the African scad, is a species of jack mackerel from the family Carangidae which is found in the south western Indian Ocean.
The Sydney skate is a species of skate of the family Rajidae native to waters off the east coast of Australia.
The grey skate is a species of fish in the family Rajidae. It was described in 2008 by Australian ichthyologist Peter R. Last.
The rough ray is a Mediterranean ray species of the Rajidae family described by Delaroche in 1809.
The golden African snapper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
The Atlantic thornyhead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Peristedion cataphractum, the African armoured gurnard, the mailed gurnard or armed gurnard, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Peristediidae, the armoured gurnards or armored sea robins. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Inegocia japonica, the Japanese flathead, rusty flathead or smooth flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
