Ecomare

The starry ray is the most common species of rays in the northern North Sea. When compared to other rays, starry rays reproduce relatively quickly, which makes them less vulnerable to population decline due to benthic fisheries. They grow up to one meter in length, although in the North Sea, they are hardly found any larger than 65 centimeters. They have a preference for sandy and muddy bottoms and cool seawater (below 10 °C). They hunt small benthic fish, crabs, shrimp, molluscs and worms. Starry rays lay 6 to 40 eggs per year on the sea floor. When the eggs hatch, the juvenile rays are 10 centimeters long.