Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Rajidae (Skates)
Etymology: Raja: Latin, raja, -ae = a sting ray (Raja sp.) (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Lacepède.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 50 - 200 m (Ref. 6808). Subtropical; 53°N - 9°N, 19°W - 36°E
Eastern Atlantic: from the southern British Isles to Senegal, and parts of the Mediterranean Sea.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 80.0 range ? - 85.2 cm
Max length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4426)
Found on sandy bottoms of shelf waters (Ref. 3167). Feed on all kinds of bottom animals (Ref. 3167). 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 7.2-9.0 cm long and 4.2-5.2 cm wide (Ref. 41303 , 41251, 41304).
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449). Egg-cases laid from March to September (Ref. 3167). Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205).
McEachran, J.D. and K.A. Dunn, 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia 1998(2):271-290. (Ref. 27314)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
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