Leucoraja circularis

(Couch, 1838)


Sandy ray
Classification: Elasmobranchii Rajiformes Rajidae

Reference of the original description
Couch, J. (1838)
A Cornish fauna, being a compendium of the natural history of the county. Part I. Vertebrate, crustacean, and a portion of the Radiate animals. Cornish Fauna

Synonyms / new combinations and misspellings
Amblyraja circularis, Raia circularis, Raja circularis, Raja falsavela, Raja falsavela intermedia, Raja falsavela maggiore, Raja (Leucoraja) circularis

Types
Leucoraja circularis
XXXX: No types known;
Raja falsavela
Holotype: ANSP: 406 (missing, old: Bonaparte 222);
Raja falsavela intermedia
XXXX: No types known;
Raja falsavela maggiore
XXXX: No types known;


Description :


Citation: Leucoraja circularis (Couch, 1838): In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 03/2024

Please send your images of "Leucoraja circularis" to info@shark-references.com

Leucoraja circularis (Couch, 1838), © FAO, www.fish-base.org
Common names
deu \(T\) Sandroche, deu \(T\) Sandrochen, spa Raya circular, spa Raya falsa vela, fra \(T\) Raie circulaire, fra \(T\) Raie ronde, fra \(T\) Raie ronde circulaire, eng Cuckoo ray, eng Sandy ray, eng Sandy skate, ita Razza rotonda, por Raia-de-São-Pedro

Short Description
Snout short, its tip somewhat pronounced; upper surface entirely spinulose, about 8 thorns generally in a complete row around inner margin of eye and a triangle of thorns on nape or shoulder region; underside with prickles only on snout, between gill-slits, along abdomen, and at anterior margins of disc; tail only slightly longer than body; upper surface reddish-brown to dark brown with 4-6 creamy spots on each wing, underside white [7182].

Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Iceland [20065], southern Norway, Skagerrak and Morocco, including western Mediterranean. Records as far south to Mauritania and Senegal could not be verified due to lacking descriptions and specimens; most are probably misidentifications of Leucoraja leucosticta. Source: www.gbif.org

Human uses
fisheries: minor commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species

Biology
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk [733]. With no definite egg laying period [7182]. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother [17086].

Size / Weight / Age
120 cm TL (male/unsexed; [7180]); 117 cm TL (female)

Habitat
demersal; marine; depth range 70 - 676 m [17735]

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=3487;

Parasites (arranged by Jürgen Pollerspöck)
Monogenea
  • Calicotyle kroyeri Diesing, 1850 [17150]

Cestoda
  • Acanthobothrium dujardinii Van Beneden, 1849 [16101]
  • Acanthobothrium sp. [16448]
  • Ditrachybothridium macrocephalum Rees, 1959 [16380] [16430] [19536]
  • Echeneibothrium elongatum Williams, 1966 [16953]
  • Grillotia erinaceus (Van Beneden, 1858) [16112]
  • Phyllobothrium lactuca Van Beneden, 1850 [16443]
  • Pseudanthobothrium aegyptiacus (Hassan, 1982) [16322]