{"id":4504,"date":"2022-08-05T10:06:35","date_gmt":"2022-08-05T10:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/seabirds\/?page_id=4504"},"modified":"2022-11-08T12:43:43","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T12:43:43","slug":"leucoraja-circularis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/leucoraja-circularis\/","title":{"rendered":"Leucoraja circularis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:31px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-1 wp-block-group alignfull has-tertiary-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid alignfull column1-desktop-grid__span-8 column1-desktop-grid__start-3 column1-desktop-grid__row-1 column1-tablet-grid__span-8 column1-tablet-grid__row-1 column1-mobile-grid__span-4 column1-mobile-grid__row-1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-none is-vertically-aligned-center\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-huge-font-size\"><em>Leucoraja circularis<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Common name:<\/strong> Sandy ray  <br><strong>Order:<\/strong> Rajiformes <br><strong>Family:<\/strong> Rajidae&nbsp; <br><strong>Synonyms: <\/strong><em>Raja circularis<\/em><br><strong>Misidentifications: <\/strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/leucoraja-fullonica\/\">Leucoraja fullonica<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-4507\" style=\"width: 100%;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-27-6 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-4507 ml-slider\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_4507\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_4507\">\n            <ul aria-live=\"polite\" class=\"slides\">\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-4518 ms-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/lcircularis_GonzaloMucientesSandoval2-691x494.jpg\" height=\"500\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-4507 slide-4518\" title=\"lcircularis_GonzaloMucientesSandoval2\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">photo credit: Gonzalo Mucientes Sandoval<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-6278 ms-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/lcircularis_A.M.Arias2_-700x500.jpg\" height=\"500\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-4507 slide-6278\" title=\"lcircularis_A.M.Arias2\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">photo credit: A. M. Arias<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-4517 ms-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/lcircularis_WILDLIFE-GmbH2-687x490.jpg\" height=\"500\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-4507 slide-4517\" title=\"lcircularis_WILDLIFE-GmbH2\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">drawing: WILDLIFE-GmbH<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:41px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid alignfull column1-desktop-grid__span-4 column1-desktop-grid__start-3 column1-desktop-grid__row-1 column2-desktop-grid__span-4 column2-desktop-grid__start-7 column2-desktop-grid__row-1 column1-tablet-grid__span-4 column1-tablet-grid__row-1 column2-tablet-grid__span-4 column2-tablet-grid__start-5 column2-tablet-grid__row-1 column1-mobile-grid__span-4 column1-mobile-grid__row-1 column2-mobile-grid__span-4 column2-mobile-grid__row-2\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-none\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-background-color has-background has-large-font-size\"><strong>Short description<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Large skate. Rounded disc, with longer tail. Short muzzle with pronounced tip. Spiny upper surface. A row of 8 thorns around the margin of eyes. A big triangle of thorns on the shoulder area. Smooth ventral surface with prickles in several areas.<br><br><strong>Color:<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/strong>Ash-gray to dark brown dorsal surface, with 4-6 creamy spots with dark margin. White ventral surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Measurements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong style=\"background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--background); color: var(--wp--preset--color--foreground); font-family: var(--font-base, &quot;PT Sans&quot;, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Roboto&quot;, &quot;Oxygen&quot;, &quot;Ubuntu&quot;, &quot;Cantarell&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif);\">Total length&nbsp;<\/strong><span style=\"background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--background); color: var(--wp--preset--color--foreground); font-family: var(--font-base, &quot;PT Sans&quot;, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Roboto&quot;, &quot;Oxygen&quot;, &quot;Ubuntu&quot;, &quot;Cantarell&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif);\">(TL): 60 &#8211; 100 cm (max 120 cm). <\/span><br><span style=\"background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--background); color: var(--wp--preset--color--foreground); font-family: var(--font-base, &quot;PT Sans&quot;, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Roboto&quot;, &quot;Oxygen&quot;, &quot;Ubuntu&quot;, &quot;Cantarell&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif);\">Females seem to be larger than male.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Swimming pattern: <\/strong>Undulatory and pelvic fin locomotion (walking and punting).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-background-color has-background has-large-font-size\"><strong>Egg case<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<p>Rectangular shape and pointed horns at the corners, deposited in sandy or muddy bottoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Size: <\/strong>8-9 cm length, 4-5 cm wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Distinctive features:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>5 cm &gt; Egg-case length \u2265 3 cm<\/li><li>Anterior horn length greater than the egg-case length<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Leucoraja_circularis_Egg.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"123\" height=\"393\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Leucoraja:<\/span> Egg case with long pointed horns. Anterior horns length greater than twice the posterior. Rear horns relatively long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Rajiformes \/ Rajidae:<\/span> Rectangular egg-case, width inferior or equal to two times the capsule length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-background-color has-background has-large-font-size\"><strong>Biology \/ Ecology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-caf50a6c-6585-4a9d-972f-8036f1810e92\">Feeds on all kinds of bottom animals such as crustaceans, cephalopods and elasmobranchs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-caf50a6c-6585-4a9d-972f-8036f1810e92\"><strong>Reproduction: <\/strong>Oviparous. Size at maturity<strong> <\/strong>(TL): 66 cm male. Females immature at 76 cm (TL). Size at birth (TL): 8-9 cm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-caf50a6c-6585-4a9d-972f-8036f1810e92\"><strong>Habitat: <\/strong>Demersal near soft substrate in cold and temperate waters of the outer continental shelf and upper slope. Recently found in deeper waters between 200 and 800 m, mainly around 100 m of depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid column1-desktop-grid__span-11 column1-desktop-grid__row-1 column1-tablet-grid__span-8 column1-tablet-grid__row-1 column1-mobile-grid__span-4 column1-mobile-grid__row-1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-none\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-tertiary-background-color has-background\">According to the FAO, this species should be considered extinct in the Mediterranean Sea &#8211; but recent records contradict this view.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-none\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-background-color has-background has-large-font-size\"><strong>Distinguishing characteristics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Short muzzle with pronounced tip.<\/li><li>Several small circular spots of color cream with a dark margin, often symmetrical.<\/li><li>Tips of the disk rounder than <a href=\"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/leucoraja-fullonica\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"4491\"><em>L. fullonica<\/em><\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rajiformes \/ Rajidae:<\/strong> Depressed body. Circular to rhombic disc. Tail well demarcated from disc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-background-color has-background has-large-font-size\"><strong>Distribution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-7c753903-038c-44d5-aff6-969ae6648293\"><strong>Worldwide:<\/strong>&nbsp;Northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Absent from Black Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Occurrence: <\/strong>Rare<\/li><li><strong>Latest records: <\/strong>Sardinian Sea (2007-2021), Malta (2005-2018), South Sicily &#8211; Italy (2015-2018), Portugal (1986-2017), Atlantic &#8211; Morocco (2016), Northern Alboran Sea &#8211; Spain (2012-2015), Corsica &#8211; France (2012-2015), Tyrrhenian Sea &#8211; Italy (2012-2015), Southern Adriatic Sea &#8211; Italy, Albania, Montenegro (2012-2015), Northwestern Ionian Sea (2012-2015), Aegean Sea (2012-2015), Calabria &#8211; Italy (2011), Balearic Sea (2001-2010), Cyprus (2009), Algeria (2003-2004), Northern Adriatic Sea (1948).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Leucoraja_circularis_4.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid column1-desktop-grid__span-10 column1-desktop-grid__start-2 column1-desktop-grid__row-1 column1-tablet-grid__span-8 column1-tablet-grid__row-1 column1-mobile-grid__span-4 column1-mobile-grid__row-1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-none\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-foreground-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background\">Any recent observation not on the map?<br><a href=\"mailto: lmendez@ciesm.org\">Contact us<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-background-color has-background has-large-font-size\"><strong>Conservation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-ca6ef4b1-4ee6-45e6-85da-9ca8e126a46f\"><strong>Threats:<\/strong> Taken as bycatch with bottom trawlers.<br><br><strong>Protection level:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Mediterranean:<\/strong> Critically Endangered (IUCN 2016, last assessment: 2016)<\/li><li><strong>Global, Europe:<\/strong> Endangered (IUCN 2015, last assessment: 2014)<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-2 wp-block-group alignfull has-tertiary-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid alignfull column1-desktop-grid__span-10 column1-desktop-grid__start-2 column1-desktop-grid__row-1 column1-tablet-grid__span-8 column1-tablet-grid__row-1 column1-mobile-grid__span-4 column1-mobile-grid__row-1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-none\">\n<p><strong>Key references<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"font-size:14px\"><li>Alkusairy H., Saad A. 2018. First record of <em>Leucoraja circularis<\/em> (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) in the Syrian marine waters (Eastern Mediterranean). <em>Marine Biodiversity Records<\/em> 11(1): 1-5.<\/li><li>Carluccio A., Capezzuto F., Maiorano P., Sion L., D\u2019Onghia G. 2021. Deep-water cartilaginous fishes in the Central Mediterranean Sea: Comparison between geographic areas with two low impact tools for sampling. <em>Journal of Marine Science and Engineering<\/em> 9(7): 686.<\/li><li>Carpentieri P., Nastasi A., Sessa M., Srour A. 2021. Incidental catch of vulnerable species in Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries \u2013 A review. General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean.&nbsp;<em>Studies and Reviews<\/em>&nbsp;101: I-317.<\/li><li>Follesa M. C., Marongiu M. F., Zupa W., Bellodi A., Cau A., Cannas R., Colloca F., Djurovic M., Isajlovic I., Jadaud A., Manfredi C., Mulas A., Peristeraki P., Porcu C., Ramirez-Amaro S., Salmer\u00f3n Jim\u00e9nez F., Serena F., Sion L., Thasitis I., Cau A., Carbonara P. 2019. Spatial variability of Chondrichthyes in the northern Mediterranean.&nbsp;<em>Scientia Marina&nbsp;<\/em>83(S1) : 81-100.<\/li><li>Geraci M. L., Ragonese S., Scannella D., Falsone F., Gancitano V., Mifsud J., Gambin M., Said A., Vitale S. 2021. Batoid abundances, spatial distribution, and life history traits in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea): Bridging a knowledge gap through three decades of survey. <em>Animals <\/em>11(8): 2189.<\/li><li>Giovos I., Serena F., Katsada D., Anastasiadis A., Barash A., Charilaou C., Hall-Spencer J.M.,Crocetta F.,Kaminas A., Kletou D, Maximiadi M., Minasidis V., Moutopoulos D.K., Aga-Spyridopoulou R.N., Thasitis I., Kleitou P. 2021. Integrating literature, biodiversity databases, and citizen-science to reconstruct the checklist of Chondrichthyans in Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea).<em> Fishes<\/em> 6(3): 24.<\/li><li>Mancusi C., Massi D., Baino R., Cariani A., Crobe V., Ebert D.A., Ferrari C., Gordon A., Hoff G.R., Iglesias S.P., Titone A., Serena F. 2021. An identification key for Chondrichthyes egg cases of the Mediterranean and Black Sea. <em>The European Zoological Journal<\/em> 88(1): 436-448.<\/li><li>Mnasri N., Bouma\u00efza M, Capap\u00e9&nbsp; C. 2009. Morphological data, biological observations and occurrence of a rare skate,<em> Leucoraja circularis<\/em> (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae), off the northern coast of Tunisia (central Mediterranean). <em>Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences<\/em> 4(1): 70-78.<\/li><li>Ordines F., Massut\u00ed E., Moranta J., Quetglas A., Guijarro B., Fliti K. 2011. Balearic Islands vs Algeria: two nearby western Mediterranean elasmobranch assemblages with different oceanographic scenarios and fishing histories.&nbsp;<em>Scientia Marina<\/em>&nbsp;75(4): 707-717.<\/li><li>Villagra D., Van Bogaert N., Ampe B., Walker P., Uhlmann S. S. 2022. Life-history traits of batoids (Superorder Batoidea) in the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean. <em>Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries<\/em>: 1-23.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leucoraja circularis Common name: Sandy ray Order: Rajiformes Family: Rajidae&nbsp; Synonyms: Raja circularisMisidentifications: Leucoraja fullonica Short description Large skate. Rounded disc, with longer tail. Short muzzle with pronounced tip. Spiny upper surface. A row of 8 thorns around the margin of eyes. A big triangle of thorns on the shoulder area. Smooth ventral surface with<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/leucoraja-circularis\/\">Lire la suite <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">\u00ab\u00a0Leucoraja circularis\u00a0\u00bb<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4504"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4504"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6715,"href":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4504\/revisions\/6715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ciesm.org\/marine\/programs\/skatesandrays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}