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ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Thornback ray

In Dive.Explo360: Mediterranean · Northeast Atlantic · Atlantic Ocean · Black Sea

Easy to recognise by its diamond-shaped outline and back covered in small spines, the Thornback ray frequently rests on sand with only its eyes showing. Inconspicuous but efficient, it tracks buried crustaceans and small fish before moving away with a powerful wingbeat.

Habitat de Thornback ray Habitat
Sand, Gravel, Detrital bottom
Profondeur de Thornback ray Depth
5-400 m
Groupe biologique de Thornback ray Group
Benthic fish
Rôle écologique de Thornback ray Role
Apex predator

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

The Thornback ray is easily recognised by its diamond-shaped body and rough skin covered in small backward-curving spines. Its pattern has dark spots on a brown to grey background, allowing it to blend into its surroundings. Its fairly robust tail bears two small dorsal fins but no venomous sting. Its snout is short and rounded, and its mouth is beneath the body, as in all rays.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It lives on continental-shelf seabeds, most often between a few metres and about one hundred metres deep, but can descend farther. It mainly frequents soft seabeds such as sand, mud or gravel, where it can conceal itself.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

It is a seabed predator. It detects prey buried in sediment and mainly feeds on crustaceans, worms, molluscs and small fish.

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Other species — Benthic fish

Greater weever Spotted ray Anglerfish Small-spotted catshark Marbled electric ray Red-mouthed Goby Large-scaled Goby Pore-cheeked Goby

Same habitat and depth

Sandy seabed species Gravel seabed species Detrital seabed species

Same ecological role and depth

Apex predator species

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