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Yellowspotted skate (Leucoraja wallacei) — Rajidae

Yellowspotted skate

Leucoraja wallacei
Family: Rajidae

The Yellowspotted skate (Leucoraja wallacei) is a brackish-water fish of the family Rajidae that grows up to 100 cm.

Length
100 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
70.0–517.0 m
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Yellowspotted skate is a skate (Rajidae) of sand and mud bottoms of the eastern Atlantic off southern Africa. The species grows to about 50 cm and has a flat, diamond-shaped disc with a pointed snout and a prickly back and tail. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried and searches for crustaceans, molluscs and bottom fish. It reproduces with egg cases ('mermaid's purses'). The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellowspotted skate?

The Yellowspotted skate has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Yellowspotted skate live?

The Yellowspotted skate lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Yellowspotted skate get?

The Yellowspotted skate grows to a maximum of about 100 cm.

Is the Yellowspotted skate dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellowspotted skate is harmless to humans.

Is the Yellowspotted skate edible?

Yes, the Yellowspotted skate is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Wallaces rog sourced
English name
Yellowspotted skate sourced
Scientific name
Leucoraja wallacei
Family
Rajidae
Other names
Blancmange skate; Skate; Yellow spotted skate; Yellowspot skate; Yellowspotted skate verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
100.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
70.0 verified
Max depth (m)
517.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Leucoraja

More from the family Rajidae

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