New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Subtropical

Speckled ray

Raja polystigma Regan, 1923
Max Length
60 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
100–400 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
62.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Found mainly on soft bottoms . Feed mainly on crustaceans and bony fishes depending on the sex, size and also partly with the season . Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother . Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats . About 20-62 eggs are laid by an individual in a year .

Scientific Name
Raja polystigma
Authority
Regan, 1923
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
60 cm
Depth Range
100–400 m
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
62.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Speckled ray is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Speckled ray is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Fecundity
20–62eggs

Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk . Ripe females occurring mostly in the winter and deposit 20 to 62 egg-cases per year depending on size . Distinct pairing with embrace. Y oung may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 100 - 400 m . Subtropical Northeast Atlantic: known only from the western Mediterranean, more common along the African coasts.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.3±0.5
Food Items

crustaceans and bony fishes depending on the sex, size and also partly with the season (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00282 × L3.31 (TL)
Max TL
60cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2024

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
62.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Regan, 1923

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Speckled ray is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.2 g
Omega-3 (total) 685 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Speckled ray has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Speckled Skate · Speckled ray
🌍CES rejnok mnohoskvrnný
🇩🇪German Vielfleckrochen
🌍ELL Στικτόβατος
🇫🇮Finnish silmärausku
🇫🇷French Raie Douce · Raie tachetée
🇮🇹Italian Razza Di Montagu · Razza polistimma
🇵🇱Polish raja plamista
🇵🇹Portuguese Raia-patinadora
🇪🇸Spanish Manchada · Raya Pintada · Raya manchada
🌍SQI Raje pikaloshe
🌍TUR vatoz
🌍UKR Скат крапчастий

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Raia polystigma Regan 1923 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Speckled ray ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.