Records of the critically endangered Cuckoo ray Leucoraja naevus (Rajidae) from the Algerian Coast (Southern Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

Cuckoo ray Leucoraja naevus (Müller and Henle, 1841) is caught in relative abundance in the eastern Atlantic from the North Sea to Mauritania and probaly entered the Mediterranean Sea where viable populations were observed. The captures of L. naevus decreased in the latter sea, and completely disappeared in some regions. This paper presents some specimens captured from the Algerian coast. They are considered rare specimens sporadically caught, such pattern being corroborated by information provided by local fishermen.