Winter skate
📖 Overview
Prefer sandy and gravelly bottoms in shoal water in the north range; to at least 90 m in south . Benthic . Much larger specimens (than 113 cm) of up to 150 cm were captured by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada off central and northern Nova Scotia from 1960 to 1971 . Those caught at Cans, Nova Scotia in Canada were found to have eaten dollarfish, cunner, and squid. Mostly inactive during daylight hours, but active under dark conditions . Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother . Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats . Egg capsules are 5.5-9.9 cm long and 3.5-5.3 cm wide . Electric organ discharge (EOD) activity seemed more frequent during dark periods . The individual EOD of this species is monophasic, head-negative, and lasts 217 ms . This species is used only for the manufacture of fish meal.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Disk rounded, with many small dark spots on upper surface. Usually 1-4 ocelli on upper surface on each side of disk, each with a dark brownish center and pale edge. Young have long middorsal row of large spines on disk and tail. Upper jaw has 72 rows of teeth . Lower surface usually white but marked with irregular pale brownish blotches .: other.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Winter skate is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Winter skate is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
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; oceanodromous ; depth range 4 - 723 m . Temperate; 60°N - 34°N, 79°W - 43°W North Carolina, USA.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Big Skate · Eyed Skate · Winter Big Skate · Winter Skate |
| 🌍CES | rejnok zimní |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Vinterrokke |
| 🇩🇪German | Augenfleck-Rochen · Winterrochen |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | täplärausku |
| 🇫🇷French | raie tachetée |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Razza invernale |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | winterrog |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Raia-inverneira |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Большой зимний скат · Большой скат · Зимний скат |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raja ocellata | Mitchill | 1815 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 9 records indexed .
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