Leucoraja melitensis (Clark, 1926)
Maltese ray
Razza maltese,  Pichira janca
Leucoraja melitensis
photo by FAO

Family:  Rajidae (Skates)
Max. size:  52 cm TL (male/unsexed); 45 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 60 - 800 m
Distribution:  Mediterranean Sea: endemic to the coasts of Tunisia, Malta and a single record from Italy; rare off Algeria.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Feed on crustaceans mainly amphipods (Ref. 3167). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). About 10-56 eggs are laid per individual annually (Ref. 41305, 41314).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 25 November 2014 (A2bcd+3bcd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Known from a single record off the southern coast (Ref. 3167).


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.