Common skate (Dipturus batis)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Dipturus batis
- Common name
- Common skate
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Rajidae
- Genus
- Dipturus
- Size
- 130–285 cm
- Depth
- 100–1000 m
- IUCN status
- Critically endangered (CR)
- Danger level
- Caution
- Habitats
- sand, mud
- Behaviours
- solitary
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic
Description
Dipturus batis reaches 2.85 m and 100 kg. Largest skate (Rajidae) Northeast temperate boreal Atlantic. Very flat gray-brown to green-brown body with elongated pointed snout. Lives from 100 to 1000 m on deep sand and muddy bottoms of Northeast Atlantic, North Sea, Northwest Atlantic. Listed CR (Critically Endangered) by IUCN following massive historical commercial overfishing (highly prized flesh). Locally considered extinct in English Channel, Baltic Sea, southern North Sea. Remaining refuge Norway, Iceland. Exceptionally rare wide-angle photo subject, ghost species of Northeast Atlantic.
Photo of Common skate
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Common skate?
- Common skate (Dipturus batis) reaches 130–285 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Common skate?
- Common skate is found between 100–1000 m deep.
- Is the Common skate dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Caution.
- What is the conservation status of the Common skate?
- IUCN status: Critically endangered (CR).
- Where can you find the Common skate?
- Found in: East Atlantic.
Other species in the genus Dipturus
Other species in the family Rajidae
- Leucoraja naevus - Cuckoo ray
- Amblyraja radiata - Starry ray
- Raja brachyura - Blonde ray
- Raja microocellata - Small-eyed ray
- Raja clavata - Thornback ray
- Raja montagui - Spotted Ray
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 105869)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2420234)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia