Fish
Starry Ray
Amblyraja radiata · also called thorny skate
On the cold gravel of the northern North Sea, a starry ray lies still, its back and tail bristling with star-shaped thorns.
Overview
The starry ray, Amblyraja radiata, is a Vulnerable small skate of cold North Atlantic waters, covered in star-shaped thorns. Its thorny coat, former abundance, and decline under trawling make it a symbol of how even common skates can be reduced by fishing.
A skate armed with stars
The starry ray’s thorns grow from broad, star-shaped bases, giving the back and tail a coat of armour that deters most predators.
Status
Vulnerable, with sharp declines in several areas.
Starry Ray: common questions
Why is it called the starry ray?
Its back and tail are studded with star-shaped, sharp-pointed thorns.
Where does the starry ray live?
It lives in cold waters of the North Atlantic, on sand, gravel, and mud from the shallows to deep water.
Why has it declined?
It has been caught in large numbers by trawlers, particularly in the north-west Atlantic.
Where is the starry ray found?
It lives in cold waters of the North Atlantic, from North America to Greenland, Iceland, and northern Europe.