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Skate

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

This article is about the fish. For other uses, see Skate (disambiguation).
Skates
Barndoor Skate, Dipturus laevis
Barndoor Skate, Dipturus laevis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Rajidae
Genera

See text.

Skates are cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae in the superorder Batoidea of rays. They are carnivorous, feeding mostly on smaller fish and crustaceans. They have flat pectoral fins continuous with their head, two dorsal fins and a short, spineless tail. There are more than 200 described species in 25 genera.

They are benthic (bottom-dwelling) and are found throughout the world from continental shelves down to the abyssal zone. They are oviparous fishes, laying eggs in a horny case known as a mermaid's purse. It is thought that egg-laying in skates is an evolutionary reversal, that is, skates are descended from ovoviviparous ancestors.

A skate egg case, known as a mermaid's purse.
Enlarge
A skate egg case, known as a mermaid's purse.
Skate wings.
Enlarge
Skate wings.

The common skate, Dipturus batis, is the largest found in British waters. It has a long, pointed snout. However, the most common skate in British seas is the thornback ray, Raja clavata. They are frequently caught by trawling. Common skate and white skate are assessed as Critically Endangered by IUCN (World Conservation Union) and the fish is listed by the Marine Conservation Society as a "fish to avoid"[1].

Skate "wings" are regarded as being somewhat similar in taste and texture to scallops. They have soft bones.


[edit] Genera

  • Amblyraja
  • Arhynchobatis
  • Atlantoraja
  • Bathyraja
  • Breviraja
  • Cruriraja
  • Dactylobatus
  • Dipturus
  • Fenestraja
  • Gurgesiella
  • Irolita
  • Leucoraja
  • Malacoraja
  • Neoraja
  • Notoraja
  • Okamejei
  • Pavoraja
  • Psammobatis
  • Pseudoraja
  • Raja
  • Rajella
  • Rhinoraja
  • Rioraja
  • Rostroraja
  • Sympterygia

[edit] See also

  • Anacanthobatidae, the family of smooth skates.

[edit] References


Citation Help

APA Style: Reference List

Encyclopedia Jr (2007). Skate. Retrieved May 27, 2012, from http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/s/k/a/skate.

MLA Style: Works Cited Page

"Skate." Encyclopedia Jr. 2007. 27 May 2012 <http://www.encyclopediajr.com/wikiarticle/s/k/a/skate>.


This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article skate.


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