Summary ⁴

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. The water in which this skate lives is usually shallow,but this species frequents fairly deep water also. The seafloor is this skates territory and is usually composed of sand and soft sediment. The average size...

Biology ⁵

Found from saltwater parts of estuaries and bays of 330 m (Ref. 26938). Inhabit inshore areas. Prefer waters of 10°-21°C. Feed mainly on decapod crustaceans, bivalves, polychaetes, squids and fishes (Ref. 3824). Breed while inshore (Ref. 6902). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). Egg capsules are 5.1-8.9 cm long and 3.8-5.7 cm wide (Ref. 41249, 41307, 41301, 41358).

Size ⁶

Maximum size: 620 mm WD

Diagnostic description ⁷

Small skate, with irregular darker spots and bars on dorsal surface. Translucent area on each side of mid-dorsal ridge on snout (Ref. 26938). Single row of thorns along the midridge of the back (Ref. 6902). Disk with dark brown bars and streaks and some spots. Front edges nearly straight or slightly concave (Ref. 7251).

Diet ⁸

Feed mainly on decapod crustaceans, bivalves, polychaetes, squids and fishes

Life cycle ⁹

Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205).From the work of Libby and Gilbert (1960) (Ref. 51117) and Luer and Gilbert (1985) (Ref. 38742) male and female clearnose skates mate side by side in an upright position (Ref. 49562). Actual copulation occurs when the male bites the caudal margin of the female's pectoral, bends his tail 75 degrees beneath hers and inserts one clasper, flexed ('splayed') medially 90 degrees, into her oviduct (Ref. 49562). A female displays 'back arching' and 'pectoral fin undulations' as precopulatory behavior to attract males (Ref. 49562).

Reproduction ¹⁰

Unknown

Link to Access Genomic Data ¹¹

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=33514&lvl=0

Sources and Credits

1. (c) David Remsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/dremsen/14954508998/
2. (c) Allyce Irwin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Allyce Irwin
3. (c) Gibbons, Ruth E., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=fishes&irn=10575641
4. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_eglanteria
5. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20915808
6. (c) FishWise Professional, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/24182775
7. (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20915809
8. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/28476558
9. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20915813
10. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Gulf of Maine - CoML, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/8080848
11. (c) matbio, all rights reserved

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• FishBase
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• VertNet
• World Register of Marine Species

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