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Clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria) — Rajidae

Clearnose skate

Raja eglanteria
Family: Rajidae
LC · Least Concern

The Clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria) is a saltwater fish of the family Rajidae that grows up to 84 cm.

Length
84 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The clearnose skate is a skate (family Rajidae) of the western Atlantic. The species grows to about 84 cm and has a rhomboid pectoral disc, brown in colour with dark spots, streaks and bars, and translucent areas on the sides of the snout that give it its name. A row of thorns runs along the back. It lives on sand and mud bottoms in estuaries, bays and coastal waters, from shallow to about 330 m. Its diet consists of decapod crustaceans, bivalves, polychaetes, squids and fishes. The species is oviparous, laying angular egg capsules; it is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Clearnose skate?

The Clearnose skate has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Clearnose skate live?

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

How big does the Clearnose skate get?

The Clearnose skate grows to a maximum of about 84 cm.

Is the Clearnose skate dangerous to humans?

No, the Clearnose skate is harmless to humans.

Is the Clearnose skate edible?

The Clearnose skate is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Helderneusrog sourced
English name
Clearnose skate sourced
Scientific name
Raja eglanteria
Family
Rajidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
84.0 sourced
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Raja

More from the family Rajidae

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