About Amblyraja radiata (Donovan, 1808)
The thorny skate, scientifically named Amblyraja radiata (Donovan, 1808), can grow up to 1.05 m (3.4 ft) in total length and reach a weight of 11.4 kg (25 lb). Its underside is smooth, while its upper side is very rough, covered in many small thorns, with 13 to 17 larger thorns arranged in a line from the back of the head to the end of the tail, which matches its common name. The upper side of the skate is brown, sometimes marked with black spots, and its underside is white. It has a hard, roughly triangular snout, and a tail that is shorter than its body. Its diet consists of crustaceans, small fishes, and worms. The species produces egg capsules that measure 3.4-8.9 cm in length and 2.3-6.8 cm in width, and hatching occurs outside the parent's body.
