Home · Rajidae · Powell's skate
Powell's skate (Okamejei powelli) — Rajidae

Powell's skate

Okamejei powelli
Family: Rajidae

The Powell's skate (Okamejei powelli) is a fish of the family Rajidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Want the complete picture on the Powell's skate?

Get the app

Description

Powell's skate is a skate (Rajidae) from coastal waters 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 Powell's skate?

The Powell's skate is mainly brown.

Where does the Powell's skate live?

The Powell's skate is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Powell's skate get?

The Powell's skate grows to a maximum of about 50 cm.

Is the Powell's skate dangerous to humans?

No, the Powell'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 Powell's skate?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Powell's skate sourced
Scientific name
Okamejei powelli
Family
Rajidae
Other names
Indian ring skate; Indian ringed skate

Appearance

Size class
Large
Max length (cm)
50 sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Sand / mud bottom 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

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 Powell's skate?

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

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