| Rajidae (Skates) |
| 57 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 33 - 530 m, oceanodromous |
| Western Atlantic: southern New England to southern Florida in the USA. |
|
Rows of spines along back and sides of tail. Tail rather long. Conspicuous dark rosettes on upper surface of disk in young and adults. Axil of pelvic fin to 1st dorsal fin greater than from axil of pelvic fin to eye (Ref. 7251). Upper surface pale buff or brown freckled with small spots, darker or paler. Lower surface white or pale yellow (Ref. 6902). |
| Occur mostly on outer edge of continental shelf and upper part of continental slope (Ref. 7251). Known salinities at which it has been taken 33.8 off Block Island to 35.3 off Chesapeake bay (Ref. 6902). Feed mostly on decapod crustaceans and to a lesser extent on amphipods, polychaetes, squids and fishes. Oviparous (Ref. 50449). 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). Egg capsules are 3.7-5.4 cm long and 2.6-3.0 cm wide (Ref. 41301, 41298). Marketed fresh and salted (Ref. 3824). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 June 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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