Fish
Cuckoo Ray
Leucoraja naevus
On the muddy sand of the continental shelf, a cuckoo ray lies still, the peacock-like eye spots on its wings staring up at the water above.
Overview
The cuckoo ray, Leucoraja naevus, is a Least Concern ray of the continental shelf of the north-eastern Atlantic. Its butterfly-like eye spots and modest size make it one of the prettiest and commonest of the small rays.
A ray with false eyes
The dark eye spots on its wings may distract or startle a predator, drawing attention away from the head and body.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Cuckoo Ray: common questions
What are the markings on a cuckoo ray?
It has a large, dark, ringed eye spot on each wing, patterned like a peacock or butterfly.
What are the eye spots for?
A large, dark, ringed eye spot on each wing may startle predators.
How big is a cuckoo ray?
It is a small ray, usually around 50 to 70 cm long.
Where is the cuckoo ray found?
It lives on sandy and muddy bottoms of the continental shelf and slope in the north-eastern Atlantic.