Fun Thornback Ray Facts For Kids

The thornback ray (Raja clavata) is also known as the thornback skate. It is a species of ray fish that lives in the oceans of the British Isles, the Gulf of California, and the area that extends from Iceland to Norway. Their distribution is varied and seas where you can find the thornback ray include the Black Sea, the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Other names for the thornback ray are ‘shovelnose shark’, ‘banjo shark’, ‘prickleback shark’, and ‘pinback ray’. The thornback ray is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and therefore is in need of conservation measures. Ray wings and meat are popular dishes, so overfishing is the main reason for this species’ decline.The length of these rays can go up to a maximum of 54.7 in (139 cm) and they weigh 39.6 lb (18 kg). A throwback ray is usually olive-brown and its body has a distinct diamond shape due to its large pectoral fins. As ray species are related to sharks, they have a considerably soft cartilage skeleton and have a tail that is as long as their body. Thornback rays also have a series of shark thorns on their back for protection.Keep reading down to find some interesting facts about the thornback ray. If you like these, you can also read about the catfish and the stingray.‍

What do they prey on? Crabs, shrimp, and fish

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 140-160 eggs

How much do they weigh? 4.5-8.75 lb (2-4 kg)

How long are they? 38.5-47.2 in (98-120 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Gray and white

Skin Type Scales

What were their main threats? Humans

What is their conservation status? Near Threatened

Where you’ll find them? Oceans

Locations Iceland And Norway

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Raja

Class Chondrichthyes

Family Rajidae

Thornback Ray Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a thornback ray?The thornback ray (Raja clavata) is a species of ray fish that is found in coastal waters. Much of their distribution ranges from Iceland to Norway.What class of animal does a thornback ray belong to?The thornback ray belongs to the Chondrichthyes class of fish. It is in the Raja genus and the Rajidae family. Its scientific name is Raja clavata.How many thornback rays are there in the world?The number of thornback rays in the world is not currently known. As they are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List, it is known that their population is steadily decreasing.Where does a thornback ray live?The thornback ray lives deep in the oceans of the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Indian Ocean. The distribution of this species is varied, it is commonly spotted in the British Isles, around Madeira, and near South Africa.What is a thornback ray’s habitat?The thornback ray lives at the base of the continental shelf and near the coastal seashore. They tend to prefer areas with mud, gravel, sand, and rocks. An adult R. clavata lives near the shore during summer and moves into deeper water for the onset of winter. A thornback ray can go as deep as 984 ft (300m) and its average depth is 196.85 ft (60 m). Juveniles tend to stay near the shores until they have matured.Who do thornback rays live with?The thornback ray is mostly a solitary fish and they are only seen together during the breeding season. However, they can sometimes be seen traveling with other fish of the same size.How long does a thornback ray live?The lifespan of a thornback ray fish ranges from 12-15 years.How do they reproduce?Their breeding season lasts from March until September. Their gestation period is four to six months long and females lay about 140-160 eggs per year. Thornback rays are oviparous and their eggs are buried one at a time under the sandy shore. Males reach sexual maturity at around eight years of age while females become sexually mature at seven years old. Juveniles tend to stay near the shore until they reach maturity.What is their conservation status?The conservation status of Raja clavata fish is listed as Near Threatened. Thornback rays are a victim of overfishing and hunting and this species experiences very slow growth and a long lifespan. This means that, if numbers start decreasing rapidly, it can be difficult for them to build their population back up to match the rate of exploitation.Thornback Ray Fun FactsWhat do thornback rays look like?Like all other rays, the thornback ray has a flattened body in a distinct diamond shape. The dorsal part of its body has a range of colors such as olive brown or gray and is accompanied by a soft cartilage skeleton. They can sometimes have yellow spotting and their underside is white with gray margins. Thornback rays have triangular pelvic fins and a long, narrow tail that is as long as their body. Adults usually have 21 to 25 large horns (also known as dorsal spines) for protection. Sexually mature rays have thicker thorns.How cute are they?The thornback ray species is not very cute. They have a rugged appearance which is adapted to their oceanic habitat and their thorns can look quite threatening.How do they communicate?The thornback ray has a sharp smell which helps it locate food, they also have hair on their body that can detect pressure changes in the water. They also use sounds, gestures, body movements, and vibrations to communicate.How big is a thornback ray?The length of a thornback ray ranges from 38.5-47.2 in (98-120 cm). Females of this species are generally larger than males. This fish species is about four times the size of a pink salmon.How much does a thornback ray weigh?The average weight of an adult thornback ray is 4.5-8.75 lb (2-4 kg).What are their male and female names of the species?There are no specific names of male and female fish of this species.What would you call a baby thornback ray?A baby thornback ray is usually referred to as a juvenile thornback ray.What do they eat?Thornback rays feed on shrimps, crustaceans, fish like dragonets, and sand eels. Their main predators are necklace shells, common skate fish, and other thornback rays.Are they dangerous?The thornback ray is generally harmless to humans. On the other hand, they are often hunted for their meat and thorns, showing that humans can cause harm to this fish species.Would they make a good pet?As a Near Threatened species, the thornback ray will not make a good pet. They need a constant food supply and to live in habitats with sandy bottoms.Did you know…The thornback ray will lie motionless on ocean floors and can draw water into its gills through a spiracle right behind its eyes.They are known to mate at night, which makes gathering information on their breeding patterns a little difficult for scientists!If you are fishing for thornback rays it is recommended to use a hook size of between 1/0 – 3/0 as this will give you the best chance of catching this fish.How many rows of spines does a thornback ray have?A thornback ray has three rows of around 21 to 25 spines on their back and tail. The purpose of these thorns is to protect themselves and their soft underparts from being attacked.Can you eat thornback ray?Thornback ray has a high value for its meat, more so than other skate or ray relatives. It is rich in protein, minerals, and vitamin A and does not have many calories. Thornback ray is said to taste the best out of all its cousins, but it can taste like urine if it is older than two days! This is because it develops ammonia as it ages.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fishes including the marlin and the manta ray.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable thornback cowfish coloring pages.

What type of animal is a thornback ray?

The thornback ray (Raja clavata) is a species of ray fish that is found in coastal waters. Much of their distribution ranges from Iceland to Norway.

Fun Thornback Ray Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Crabs, shrimp, and fish

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 140-160 eggs

How much do they weigh? 4.5-8.75 lb (2-4 kg)

How long are they? 38.5-47.2 in (98-120 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Gray and white

Skin Type Scales

What were their main threats? Humans

What is their conservation status? Near Threatened

Where you’ll find them? Oceans

Locations Iceland And Norway

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Raja

Class Chondrichthyes

Family Rajidae

Fun Thornback Ray Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Crabs, shrimp, and fish

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 140-160 eggs

How much do they weigh? 4.5-8.75 lb (2-4 kg)

How long are they? 38.5-47.2 in (98-120 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Gray and white

Skin Type Scales

What were their main threats? Humans

What is their conservation status? Near Threatened

Where you’ll find them? Oceans

Locations Iceland And Norway

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Raja

Class Chondrichthyes

Family Rajidae

Fun Thornback Ray Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Crabs, shrimp, and fish

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 140-160 eggs

How much do they weigh? 4.5-8.75 lb (2-4 kg)

How long are they? 38.5-47.2 in (98-120 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Gray and white

Skin Type Scales

What were their main threats? Humans

What is their conservation status? Near Threatened

Where you’ll find them? Oceans

Locations Iceland And Norway

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Raja

Class Chondrichthyes

Family Rajidae