Clearnose skate
| Clearnose skate | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A drawing of a clearnose skate by Hugh McCormick Smith | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Rajidae |
| Genus: | Raja |
| Species: | R. eglanteria |
| Binomial name | |
| Raja eglanteria L. A. G. Bosc, 1800 | |
The clearnose skate, Raja eglanteria, is a type of skate native to the entire state of Florida where it resides in brackish and salt waters. Its range extends north to Massachusetts, and may even be found as far north as Canada.[2] The water in which this skate lives is usually shallow, but this species frequents fairly deep water also. The seafloor is this skate's territory and is usually composed of sand and soft sediment. The average size for this ray species is from 1.5–3 feet (0.46–0.91 m). Its normal foods are crustaceans and mollusks, such as sand fleas and fiddler crabs. They are not commonly targeted in commercial fishing.[2]
References
- ↑ D. Ha, C. Luer & J. Sulikowski (2009). "Raja eglanteria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- 1 2 "FLMNH Ichthyology Department: Clearnose Skate". Florida Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
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