Raja asterias Delaroche, 1809
Mediterranean starry ray
Raia-pintada
Raja asterias
photo by Ilkyaz, A.T.

Family:  Rajidae (Skates)
Max. size:  75 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,549.0 g
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 700 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: endemic to the Mediterranean but may spread to the Strait of Gibraltar, northern Morocco and possibly south to Mauritania.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Inhabit inshore waters (Ref. 3167). Depth range to 170 m (Ref. 04426), and from 333-343 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Feed on all kinds of benthic animals (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 4.5 cm long and 3.0 cm wide (Ref. 41304). Minimum depth range (Ref. 114953).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 16 September 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Known from Algarve (Ref. 117282) and the Gulf of Cadiz (Ref. 117284).


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