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Blonde Ray

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description Blonde Ray Overview

The blonde ray (Raja brachyura) is a large skate species in the family Rajidae found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Mediterranean, ranging from the British Isles and Ireland down to Mauritania. Inhabiting coastal benthic environments, it typically favors sandy or muddy substrates at depths up to 200 meters. The species is named for its distinct pale golden-brown dorsal coloration, which often features a pattern of small dark spots. As an oviparous species, it lays unique rectangular egg cases on the seafloor and is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

help Blonde Ray FAQ

Is the blonde ray a stingray or a skate?

The blonde ray, Raja brachyura, is a skate in the family Rajidae rather than a whiptail stingray. It lays leathery egg cases and has a prickly body, but it is not known for the venomous tail barb associated with stingrays. [IUCN identification guide](https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2019-050-En.pdf)

Where does the blonde ray live?

Its range covers the northeastern Atlantic from the British Isles and North Sea south toward Madeira and Morocco, with additional populations in the Mediterranean. It is a demersal species that lives over soft bottoms on the continental shelf and upper slope. [FAO species profile](https://www.fao.org/4/y5945e/y5945e05.pdf)

How large can a blonde ray become?

Raja brachyura can reach about 120 centimetres in total length. It is usually associated with coastal and shelf waters, with the upper depth range described at roughly 100 to 150 metres depending on the source and region. [IUCN identification guide](https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2019-050-En.pdf)

How does the blonde ray reproduce?

It is oviparous, meaning the female lays egg cases rather than giving birth to live young. A fisheries profile reports about 30 egg cases per year, with young hatching at roughly 16 to 18 centimetres total length. [IUCN identification guide](https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2019-050-En.pdf)

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