Home · Rajidae · Holland skate
Holland skate (Okamejei hollandi) — Rajidae

Holland skate

Okamejei hollandi
Family: Rajidae

The Holland skate (Okamejei hollandi) is a saltwater fish of the family Rajidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
67.0–87.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Northwest Pacific
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Want the complete picture on the Holland skate?

Get the app

Description

The Holland skate is a small true skate (Rajidae) from coastal and slope waters of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 45 cm and has a rhomboid, flattened body with broad pectoral fins, a pointed snout and rows of small thorns over the back and tail. Unlike stingrays it has no venomous spine. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and mud bottoms between about seventy and ninety metres and eats small crustaceans, worms and small fish. It lays egg capsules. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Holland skate?

The Holland skate has an irregular in shape body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Diamond-shaped body with rows of thorns; harmless oviparous ray

Where does the Holland skate live?

The Holland skate lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Northwest Pacific

How big does the Holland skate get?

The Holland skate grows to a maximum of about 45 cm.

Is the Holland skate dangerous to humans?

No, the Holland 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.

Is the Holland skate edible?

The Holland skate is rarely eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Holland skate?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Holland skate verified
Scientific name
Okamejei hollandi
Family
Rajidae
Other names
Holland skate; Ray; Skate; Thorn-back ray; Yellow-spotted skate verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
67.0 verified
Max depth (m)
87.0 verified
Natural range
Northwest Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans, worms and small fishes inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-dwelling oviparous ray; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Diamond-shaped body with rows of thorns; harmless oviparous ray sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Net fishing sourced
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 Holland skate?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Holland skate? Get the app