Big skate
📖 Overview
Largest skate in North America . Feed on crustaceans and fishes . Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother . Young hatch at 18-23 cm TL . Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats . Egg capsules are 22.8-30.5 cm long and 11.0-19.4 cm wide . Pectoral fins utilized for human consumption . Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten fried and baked .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Dorsal fins well back on tail, small; caudal and anal fins absent; pectorals broad, attached to snout and incorporated with body; pelvic fins large, moderately concave on free margins . Posterior sides of tail with a small fleshy keel on either side .: other.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Big skate is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Big skate is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Up to 7 embryos per egg case . Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk . Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range 3 - 800 m , usually 3 - 110 m . Temperate; 61°N - 31°N, 165°W - 117°W North Pacific: Glubokaya Bay, Cape Navarin, and Stalemate Bank to Cedros Island, Baja California, Mexico.
🌿 Ecology
crustaceans and fishes (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 15.8 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 665 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Big skate has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | big skate |
| 🇩🇪German | Riesen-Sternrochen |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | isorausku |
| 🇫🇷French | raie biocellée |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Razza grande |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Большой калифорнийский скат |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | raya bruja gigante · raya gigante |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dipturus binoculata | Girard | 1855 | Synonym |
| Raja binoculata | Girard | 1855 | Synonym |
| Raja bituberculata | Girard | 1855 | Synonym |
| Raja cooperi | Girard | 1858 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 20 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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