Species and Habitat Outlines

Big Skate
TAXONOMY

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Rajidae

 

ECOLOGICAL DATA

Distribution: common along B.C. coast at moderate depths.

Habitat: inhabit sandy or muddy level bottoms, but may occur within a few metres of the surface; spawn in winter in deep water (about 70 m); eggs are fertilized internally and deposited on bottom in egg cases.

Tidal elevation: egg cases found around 70 m depths.

Food: clams, shrimp, marine worms and fishes.

Predators: fishes.

GROWTH RATE

Maximum recorded size is 2.4 m and 91 kg.

FISHERY

Incidentally taken in commercial fishery; pectoral fins or "wings" harvested; commercial fishery in Kelsey Bay, 1986 total skate commercial catch was 517 t valued at $0.3 million.

REFERENCES

Hart, J.L. 1973. Pacific fishes of Canada. Fish. Res. Board Can. 180: 56-57.

Hitz, C.R. 1964. Observations on egg cases of the big skate (Raja binoculata Girard) found in Oregon coastal waters. J. Fish. Board Can. 21: 851-854.

Lamb, A., and P. Edgell. 1986. Coastal fishes of the Pacific Northwest. Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, B.C.: 14.

Roedel, P.M., and W.E. Ripley. 1950. California sharks and rays. Calif. Div. Fish Game Fish Bull. 75: 69-70.

 

For more information on big skate habitat utilization and life cycle - click here

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