THE THORNBACK RAY - Raja clavata
The Thornback Ray is found all round the British coast line, and is the most common out of the ray family. Unfortunately stocks are dwindling fast due to over fishing, as most of the skate we eat is actually the thornback ray.
The Thornback Ray's colour is a mottled brown to grey, with dark spots, yellowish patches and whitish underbelly, these colours all help to camouflage it against the sea bed where it spends most of its time. Then with the spines along its back which give the ray its name, make it fairly easy to recognise when caught by the angler.
The Thornback prefers the shallower costal waters, which gives both the boat and shore angler a chance to tangle with one. They are mainly a bottom feeder with crabs, flatfish, shrimps, sand eels and shellfish making up there staple diet, but they are by no means a fussy eater.
Like a kite in the sky they move over the sea bed with grace preferring a sandy, muddy or shingle bottom but will also be found over mixed ground.
The thornback breeds in spring with the female producing about one hundred and fifty eggs. These are fertilised internally by the male’s claspers, (the male’s genitals). The eggs known as mermaid’s purses, are then released in the shallows. After approximately fifteen weeks they hatch out fully formed to begin their life on the sea bed.
