Home · Rajidae · Boeseman's skate
Boeseman's skate (Okamejei boesemani) — Rajidae

Boeseman's skate

Okamejei boesemani
Family: Rajidae

The Boeseman's skate (Okamejei boesemani) is a saltwater fish of the family Rajidae that grows up to 55 cm.

Length
55 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–175.0 m
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Japan, Korea (South), Viet Nam

Want the complete picture on the Boeseman's skate?

Get the app

Description

The Boeseman's skate is a skate (Rajidae) of coastal and deeper water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 50 cm and has a flattened, diamond-shaped, brown-grey body with a pointed snout and rows of thorns over the back and tail. Unlike stingrays it has no venomous spine. As a bottom-dweller it searches sand and mud bottoms for crustaceans, molluscs and small fish; it lays eggs in horny capsules. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Boeseman's skate?

The Boeseman's skate has an irregular in shape body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Boeseman's skate live?

The Boeseman's skate lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Japan, Korea (South), Viet Nam

How big does the Boeseman's skate get?

The Boeseman's skate grows to a maximum of about 55 cm.

Is the Boeseman's skate dangerous to humans?

No, the Boeseman's skate is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Boeseman's skate?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Boeseman's skate is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Boeseman's skate sourced
Scientific name
Okamejei boesemani
Family
Rajidae
Other names
Black sand skate; Boeseman's skate verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
55.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
175.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Japan, Korea (South), Viet Nam sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Okamejei

More from the family Rajidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Boeseman's skate?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Boeseman's skate is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Boeseman's skate? Get the app