The smalleyed ray is a smaller species of skate which can attain a total length of 87 centimetres (34 in) and a weight of 4.5 kilograms (9.9 lb).

It is greyish olive to light brown in colour with lighter patches on its back,[3] there are also pale streaks which run parallel to the margins of the wings.

[6] The IUCN classify the smalleyed ray as Near Threatened because it has a restricted range with a patchy distribution with locally abundant populations which could be vulnerable to over-fishing, habitat destruction and other human-induced forms of disturbance.

Although it has been assessed as Near Threatened due to suspected declines which are nearly 30% because of high levels of exploitation, the IUCN has stated that the smalleyed ray is close to meeting the criteria to change this status to Vulnerable.

[1] Raja microocellata was first formally described by the English soldier and naturalist George Montagu (1753–1815) in a paper published posthumously in 1818, the type locality was given as the south coast of Devonshire.