• Norwegian: piggskate

Characteristics:

The thornback ray is very similar to another common ray, the starry ray. The most obvious difference is three rows of small, sharp thorns on the back and the tale. The thorns of the starry skate is larger and organized in a single row. As any other ray it has a flattened body and wide pectoral fins making the impressions of wings. The thornback ray may reach a length of 1 meter. It comes in different shades of grey and light brown. Darker blotches and numerous small spots make great camouflage on sandy sea beds.

Habitat:

It is found from just below the tidal zone and down to 300 meters. It prefers gravel or sandy substrate.

Distribution:

It can be found in the East Atlantic Ocean and the south-western Indian Ocean.