Painted Ray (Raja microocellata) are a very easy to distinguish between the species of skate as they have striped streaky patterns and blotches along their body – this gives them the impression that they have been painted!
Rays are related to sharks and share many of the same characteristics such as having a body made out of cartilage, rough skin made from dermal denticles (or ‘skin teeth’) to give them an aerodynamic advantage in the water, and gill slits to breathe.
Rays have small openings called spiracles above their eyes on top of their body which allows them to breathe if they are sitting on the floor.
Type
Fish
What do they eat?
Crustaceans, small fish
Size
86cm
Water Type
Cold saltwater
Where are we?
North Atlantic, UK coasts
See Us At
Rocky Shores
Captive Breeding
We collect up ray eggs from the Bay of Rays to nurture those that are fertile into juvenile rays!