| Rajidae (Skates) |
| 53 cm WD (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 9 years |
|
demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 183 m |
| Western Central Atlantic: Florida, USA and the Gulf of Mexico. |
|
Disk diamond-shaped; round dark spot surrounded by pale ring on base of each pectoral fin. (Ref. 26938). No small pale or dark spots on upper surface of disk, but sometimes dark blotches. No scapular spines, 1 middorsal row of spines. Distance from ocellus to eye usually less than or about equal to distance between ocelli. Snout with a clear area on each side (Ref. 7251). Upper surface rich chocolate or coffee brown, translucent on either side fo rostral cartilage. Lower surface plain white (Ref. 6902). |
| Occur from near shore to 183 m depth at temperatures ranging from 14 to 28° C but it is most common inshore of 91 m at 16-25°C. Young occur in shallow bays. Adults tend to live offshore (Ref. 26938). Adults feed mainly on decapod crustaceans and to a lesser extent on other benthic invertebrates and fishes. Oviparous. 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 6.3 cm long and 3.8 cm wide (Ref. 41359). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 June 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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