Skate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the fish. For other uses, see Skate (disambiguation).
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 Barndoor Skate, Dipturus laevis
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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.
Skates 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.[1]
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".[2]
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[edit] Consumption
Skate is edible, and skate "wings" are regarded as being somewhat similar in taste and texture to scallops. They have soft bones. In some Icelandic homes, skate is consumed on 23 December as part of the celebration of Christmas.[3]
[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.
- Jenny Haniver, a fake sea monster created from a skate corpse
[edit] References
- ^ "Rajidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. August 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
- ^ "Fish to Avoid: Skate" from the Marine Conservation Society, retrieved November 11, 2006
- ^ Iceland's Christmas Foods. [http://www.foodmuseum.com/ The FOOD Museum. Retrieved on 2006-12-23.
