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Dieren en planten

Fish   Rays   Skate   Starry ray   Spotted ray   Fish biology   Reproduction of fish   Marine fauna   Sea fish   

Starry ray

size:

maximum 105 centimeters

weight:

maximum 11.4 kilograms

lifespan:

maximum 28 years

color:

light brown with dark brown and yellow spots

food:

crustaceans, worms and fish

threats:

beam trawl fisheries

reproduction:

lays eggs
number: 6 to 40 eggs per year

  • Names:
  • Dutch: Sterrog, (doornrog, keelrog, keilrog, kielrog, koeirog)
  • Eng: Starry ray
  • Ger: Sternrochen
  • Fre: Raie radiee
  • Lat: Amblyraja radiata (Raja radiata)
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Starry ray, Ecomare

Starry ray

The starry ray is the only ray species which can roll itself into a kind of ball. When in such a position, it isn't easy for large predator fish to catch them. Starry rays hunt crustaceans, worms and fish. They'll even eat dead animals if they happen to find one. The starry ray is the most common species of rays in the North Sea; however they are rare along the Dutch coast.

  • Rough egg capsules

    Egg capsules from starry rays together with those of the thornbacks are the most commonly found ray eggs on Dutch beaches. Starry ray egg capsules are rough, while thornback capsules are smooth. Sometimes, large amounts of these egg capsules wash ashore. Starry rays lay 6 to 40 eggs per year on the sea floor. When the eggs hatch, they young rays are 10 centimeters long.

  • Distribution of starry rays
    Distribution of the starry ray, Ecomare

    Starry rays live in the North Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. They swim close to the bottom at depths between 30 and 1000 meters. They prefer sandy and muddy bottoms and cool seawater (lower than 10 degrees Celsius).