Sailray
📖 Overview
Occur in moderately deep water but mainly around 250 m in boreal and partly arctic latitudes . Maximum reported depth at 2,117 m . Benthic . Feed on all kinds of bottom animals , invertebrates and fishes . Males mature at ca. 90 cm TL and young hatch at ca. 15 cm TL . 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 . Egg capsules are 10.7 cm long and 7.7 cm wide . It is not commercially important, and is possibly taken at low level by-catch in deep-water longline and trawl fisheries .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Snout moderately long, its tip pointed and somewhat protruding; upper surface predominantly smooth, only on head and front margins more or less prickly, tail entirely spinulose, underside smooth; up to 4 thorns in front of as well as behind eye, a continuous median row of 42-51 thorns from nape to first dorsal fin . Upper surface plain fawn color, slate grey or clay grey, lower surface white, with a grey longitudinal band along tail and grey blotch on either side of cloaca .: other; Cross section: flattened.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sailray is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous . Paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk . Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 150 - 2117 m , usually 250 - ? m . Deep-water; 4°C - 6°C ; 78°N - 42°N, 70°W - 30°E North Atlantic Ocean and adjacent fringes of the Arctic Region.
🌿 Ecology
all kinds of bottom animals (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Sailray is an edible species."
- 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
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 15.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 449 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Sailray has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Sail Skate · Sailray · pale ray · white skate |
| 🌍CES | rejnok severní |
| 🌍CYM | morgath Lwyd |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Hvidrokke |
| 🇩🇪German | Weißrochen · Weißroche |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | valkorausku |
| 🇫🇷French | Raie voile |
| 🌍LIT | blyškioji raja |
| 🌍NNO | kvitskate |
| 🌍NOB | hvitskate · kvitskate |
| 🇵🇱Polish | raja głębinowa |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Raia-nevoeira |
| 🇷🇺Russian | скат парусный |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | vitrocka · blaggarnsrocka |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dipturus lintea | Fries | 1838 | Homotypic |
| Raia lintea | Fries | 1838 | Synonym |
| Raja ingolfiana | Lütken | 1898 | Synonym |
| Raja lintea | Fries | 1838 | Homotypic |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 15 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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