Head to head
Spotted Ray vs Thornback Ray
Spotted Ray
VS Thornback Ray
The spotted ray and the thornback ray share the sandy, gravelly, and muddy bottoms of the shelf seas around Britain and Ireland, and anglers often catch both.
| Spotted Ray | Thornback Ray | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Raja montagui | Raja clavata |
| Relationship | A close relative of the thornback, in the same genus | A close relative of the spotted ray, in the same genus |
| Pattern | A sandy to yellowish-brown back covered in many small dark spots, with a rounded dark patch on each wing | Brown to grey with pale blotches, blending with sand, gravel, and mud |
| Thorns | A row of thorns along the middle of the back and a few small thorns elsewhere | A back and tail studded with prickly thorns, with larger spines in rows along the tail |
| Size | Usually around 60 to 80 cm long, with a short, rounded snout | Usually 60 to 85 cm long, though larger fish occur |
| Diet | Shrimps, crabs, worms, and small fish found on sandy and muddy bottoms | Crabs, shrimps, worms, and small fish on the sand and mud of the sea bed |
| Egg cases | Rectangular cases with a horn at each corner, which wash ashore | Tough, rectangular cases with a horn at each corner, which wash ashore as mermaid's purses |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, widespread and relatively common | Near Threatened, because it matures late, has few young, and has been heavily fished in parts of its range |
Spotted Ray vs Thornback Ray: common questions
How can you tell a spotted ray from a thornback?
The spotted ray has many small dark spots and few thorns, while the thornback has pale blotches and a back and tail studded with prickly thorns.
Which one is threatened?
The thornback ray is Near Threatened, whereas the spotted ray is Least Concern.
Do both lay mermaid's purses?
Yes, both lay tough, rectangular egg cases with a horn at each corner that wash ashore as mermaid's purses.