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🌊 Marine Endangered 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Temperate

Yellownose skate

Zearaja chilensis Guichenot, 1848
Max Length
152 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.5
Depth
-
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
71.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Oviparous . Reported size at hatching and incubation period 17.2 cm TL and 252 days, respectively . Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell . Inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms at depths .

Scientific Name
Zearaja chilensis
Authority
Guichenot, 1848
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Temperate
IUCN Status
EN
Max Length
152 cm
Trophic Level
4.5
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
71.00/100
Water Temp
4–19 °C
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Genus
Zearaja
Zearaja
Species
Yellownose skate
Zearaja chilensis

🐟 Physical Description

This medium-sized speies of Dipturus (up to at least 118.0 cm TL) is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: when fresh, the dorsal surface of body is plain brownish to greyish, with some lighter small spots randomly distributed dorsally; one red to purple ocellus over center of each pectoral fin; ocelli with well-defined margins, irregular in shape, but often indistinguishable in fixed specimens; ventrally, white to grey with lighter patches over area of gill openings and beneath mouth; area flanking rostral cartilage membranous and slightly translucent and opaque and yellowish when fixed. Further differs by having a relatively broad disc with angular apices, its width 76.4 (75.0; 77.0) % TL; snout relatively short and broad; tail longer in males (42.2 [40.8] % TL) than in female voucher ([38.8] % TL); ventral head length 35.1 (34.2; 37.7) % TL; preorbital snout length 2.4 (2.9; 2.9) times distance between orbits; orbit diameter 0.5 (0.5; 0.6) of inter-orbital width; in males, the dorsal surface of disc and tail with central longitudinal band of dermal denticles extending from anterior margin of rostral cartilage to tail, including anterior margins of dorsal and caudal fins; a thin band of dermal denticles at anterior margins of pectoral fins, extending from anterior fontanelle to front line of alar thorn patches; dorsal surface of disc and tail of females covered with small dermal denticles, except for external margins of pectoral fins, pelvic fins, and area surrounding caudo-central thorns; with orbital thorns; a single nuchal thorn is often absent; both sexes without scapular thorns; a patch of malar thorns only in adult males; alar thorns only in adult males; medial-dorsal and lateral-dorsal thorns may be present in large specimens, especially in large females; small central-caudal thorns mostly arranged in longitudinal pairs in males and females, with two additional longitudinal rows of fine, sharp and posteriorly oriented lateral-caudal thorns may be present in large specimens; ventral sensory pores are small, distinct, black-edged, most abundant on snout and around mouth, scattered over area between gill openings, sparsely spaced on abdominal area and pectoral fins .Cross section: flattened.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Yellownose skate is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Yellownose skate is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Size at Maturity
103.5cm TL

Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk . Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 40 m . Temperate; 4°C - 19°C ; 18°S - 57°S, 75°W - 52°W Southeast Pacific: central Chile to the Strait of Magellan.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
4.5±0.6

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00309 × L3.24 (TL)
Max TL
152cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
4–19°C
Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Endangered
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
71.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.5
Apex / Top predator
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Guichenot, 1848

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 15.2 g
Omega-3 (total) 698 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Yellownose skate has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

👥 Community & Contribute

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