Little skate

Language English

Onglets

Description

Distinguishing features

This skate has a flat body and a pointed snout. The top of its body is covered in spines. Its eyes are also on its dorsal side, as are its spiracles, the little holes behind each eye. The mouth and fins are on the ventral side.

Reproduction

Little skates spawn year-round. Fertilization is internal. The female lays eggs between June and July and between October and January. Each egg is enclosed in a rigid, greenish case.

Diet

They feed mainly on invertebrates such as crabs, decapods, amphipods, sea worms, isopods and bivalve molluscs. They also occasionally eat small fish.

Predators

Their enemies are sharks, rays (such as broad skates) and grey seals.

Habitat

They live in salt water, on sandy or gravel bottoms, and are most often found at depths of less than 111 m. They tolerate a wide range of temperatures, from 1.2 to 20ºC.

Ecology, behaviour

Although large numbers are caught, this skate has limited commercial value, and is used mainly for fish meal.

French name

Raie-hérisson

Scientific name

Leucoraja erinacea

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish)

Order

Rajiformes

Family

Rajidae

Size

Average length: 50 cm

Status

Near threatened (IUCN - 2008)

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