Raja clavata

Andy Horton What is it please? Request from a subscriber.

David Wilson I am fairly sure this is the skin of a thornback ray. Why is it in a field? Anglers will cut of the 'wings' to eat and leave the body and tail, perhaps that is what has happened here.

Chris Barrett Raja clavata?

Chris Barrett I thought the same thing, David

Becky Hitchin Rather strange in a field, more usually seen like that on beaches, as Chris and David said!

Darryl Mayer Most likely dropped by carrion if it was in a field away from shore. ;-)

Andy Horton It was washed up on Hells Mouth Beach, Llyn Peninsula Wales

John Foster The teeth look sharky, oblique cusps like a tiger shark. But, I suppose that would have been apparent to the people who collected it and ruled it out.

David Wilson They're not teeth, though in a way they are. They are the large dermal denticles "thorns" that grow along the tail.

John Foster I see it now. Has it been identified?

Andy Horton Raja clavata is the 100% majority vote, the consensus.

Andy Horton http://www.glaucus.org.uk/strandlin.htm

Rachel Coppock Weston Agreed, Raja clavata :0)

Tom Hardman Right, nice easy one here! I'm not very good at this hehe. Can someone confirm what ray species this is, and why? Wasn't sure if it is a thornback or spotted ray. Thank you!

Andy Horton I think it is probably a Thornback, Raja clavata. However, it appears my memory is fuzzy about the rays now. Picture is not really clear enough for me. Others probably know better.

Darryl Mayer I'd plump for Raja clavata too. The spots on a Spotted Ray (Raja montagui) are much smaller and also have a grouping suggestive of the Cuckoo Ray towards the rear of the wings.

Chris Barrett Paul Kay is involved in a skates and rays survey. He'd be the man to confirm this photo I think

Douglas Herdson This is a typical Thornback. The mottled pattern with a few larger pale spots on the back. Also dark bars across tail.