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 Skate and Ray Identification |
There are 15 different types of skate and ray that are found in UK waters. Some are regularly caught by anglers and fishermen alike, others are extremely rare. |
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 Download the UK Skate and Ray Detailed Factsheets
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| Download the UK Skate and Ray ID Key |
| Download the UK Skate and Ray ID Guide |
| Download detailed factsheets for skates and rays |
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| UK Skate and Ray species characteristics |
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| Common skate (Dipturus batis). Snout long and pointed. An imaginary line from the tip of the snout to the tip of the wing would not touch the front of the disc. Dorsal surface is grey or brown, with a variable pattern of spots and blotches. Ventral surface is grey. 12-28 thorns run down the tail. Grows to 250cm length. |
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| White Skate (Rostroraja alba). Underside white with dark margin, upper surface brown with light spots, front margin of the disc distinctly concave. Grows to 200cm in length. |
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| Electric Ray (Torpedo nobiliana). Pectoral fins enlarged and fleshy. Conspicuous caudal fin at the end of the tail. Skin uniformly coloured (dark brown upper surface, white underside), margins of spiracles with smooth margins. Grows to 180 cm. |
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| Longnosed Skate (Dipturus oxyrinchus).4-11 median thorns on tail, <40 rows of teeth, snout very long, upper surface grey or brown, with spots and blotches, underside grey. Deep-water species, grows to 150cm in length. |
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| Blonde ray (Raja brachyura). Dorsal surface light brown with numerous small, black spots extending to the very outer edges of disc. 60-90 rows of teeth in the upper jaw. Grows to 120cm in length. |
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| Shagreen ray (Leucoraja fullonica). Dorsal surface plain coloured and snout pointed, 2 rows of about 50 prominent thorns along the tail, juveniles may have some dark stripes. This is an offshore species occasionally caught in the area. Grows to 100cm in length. |
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| Thornback ray (Raja clavata). Dorsal surface variably coloured with shades of brown/grey, variegated with dark and light spots and blotches, often mottled and marbled and producing reticulate patterns. A series of dark and light bands along the tail. Grows to 100cm in length. |
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| Undulate ray (Raja undulata). Dorsal surface yellow/brown with a characteristic pattern of undulating dark stripes all edged with small white spots. Underside white. Grows to 100cm in length. |
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| Smalleyed ray (Raja microocellata). Dorsal surface yellow/light brown with a characteristic pattern of light blotches and long whitish stripes parallel to front and rear margins of disc. Underside white. Grows to 80cm in length. |
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| Spotted ray (Raja montagui). Dorsal surface brown, with numerous black spots not extending to the extreme margins of disc. Occasionally with a pale blotch encircled by black spots on dorsal surface giving the appearance of an eye-spot. Grows to 80cm in length. |
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| Cuckoo ray (Leucoraja naevus). Disc tips broadly rounded. Upper side brown with faint light and dark spots. Distinct black eye-spot, marbled with irregular yellowish spots on each wing. Grows to 70cm in length. |
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| Sandy Ray (Leucoraja circularis). Upper surface rough and brown in colour, 4-6 creamy spots on each wing arranged symmetrically. Grows to 70cm in length. |
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| Starry Ray (Amblyraja radiata). Upper surface plain-coloured, thorns with conspicuous, ribbed bases, <20 median thorns along the tail. A northern species, common in North Sea and only very occasionally recorded from the south-west. Grows to about 60cm, but larger elsewhere in its range. |
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| Common Stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca). Tail slender and whip-like and with a serrated spine. Dorsal surface brownish. Typically caught inshore during the summer. The spine is connected to poison glands and can cause painful stings. Grows to 60cm disc width. |
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| Marbled Electric Ray (Torpedo marmorata). Pectoral fins enlarged and fleshy. Conspicuous caudal fin at the end of the tail. Upper surface with distinct marbled pattern, margins of spiracles with 6-8 small tentacles along the margins. Grows to 60cm. |
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