Clearnose skate
The clearnose skate, also known as the clear-nosed brier skate, is a species of cartilaginous fish native to the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States. Characterized by its distinctive diamond shape and transparent sides of the nose, this skate can grow up to three feet (90 centimeters) in length, with a tail that can be nearly as long as its body. Typically found in shallow waters such as saltwater bays and estuaries, the clearnose skate migrates to deeper waters during the colder months. Its diet consists of small squid, crustaceans, and fish, which it captures while swimming or by ambushing prey from beneath the sand.
The clearnose skate's physical appearance features a light to dark brown back adorned with spots and bars, while its underside is white. Notably, it possesses thorns along its shoulders, back, and tail for protection against predators. Fishermen often encounter this species, although it is rarely consumed. The reproductive process involves laying rectangular egg cases known as mermaids' purses, which can contain one or more young that hatch after several months. Currently, the clearnose skate is not considered threatened, indicating a healthy population.
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Clearnose skate
The clearnose skate is also known as the clear-nosed brier skate. This species is native to the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States. The clearnose snake is distinctive because of its diamond-like shape. It can appear similar to rays. The clearnose skate lives in shallow water and is named because the sides of its nose are clear, or transparent. It is up to three feet (90 centimeters) long, and its tail is nearly one half its total length.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Rajidae
Genus: Raja
Species: Eglanteria
The natural habitats of the clearnose skate are between the states of Massachusetts and Florida and along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. These fish live near shore in shallow waters of about ten fathoms, or 60 feet (18 meters). They can be found in saltwater bays and estuaries. During the colder winter months, the skate swims offshore in deeper waters of up to 65 fathoms, or 390 feet (117 meters).
Like other skates and rays, this fish is a cartilaginous fish, and has a skeleton of cartilage rather than bones. Cartilage is tissue which is softer and more flexible than bones, but is also stiff enough to hold the fish together and keep its shape.
This species of fish has a flat body and broad, wing-like pectoral fins like skate and ray species. A skate swimming through the water as it flaps its fins moves as gracefully as many birds in the air. The back of the body is light to dark brown with dark brown or black spots and bars, while its underside is white. Wider than it is long, the clearnose skate is diamond-shaped. As its name suggests, the sides of the pointed nose are clear. From nose to tail tip, the length of the clearnose skate may be up to three feet (90 centimeters) but most are less than 30 inches (75 centimeters). The tail may be just as long as the body. A skate this size weighs around six pounds (2 1/2 to 3 kilograms).
When the skate is lying on the bottom of the ocean, it takes in water through openings on its back behind its eyes so it does not breathe sand and mud into its mouth and nostrils. After removing the oxygen, the skate blows the water from its five pairs of gill openings on its underside. When it is swimming it is able to inhale water through its mouth and then pump it out its gills.
Near the eyes and the spiracles are thorns on the skate's shoulders. Another row of thorns runs along the back of the skate, and the entire tail is also lined with thorns. These thorns provide some protection from potential predators.
The clearnose skate feeds on small squid, lobsters, crabs, mollusks, crustacea, and small fish. The skate may either catch its food as it swims, or it may lie on the bottom under a thin covering of sand and pounce on unsuspecting prey. Its good vision allows it to see during the day and at night, though it hunts mainly by its sense of smell.
Fishermen often catch the clearnose skate in inshore waters, but it rarely is eaten or sold.
The skate's rectangular egg cases are commonly called mermaids' purses. Each case may be three to eight inches (7 to 20 centimeters) long and contain one or more young. Long tendrils from each corner anchor the case to a rock or to seaweed. The young hatch after three months or more. They live independently of their parents as soon as they hatch.
The clearnose skate is believed to have a healthy population size. It is not listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Related species of the genus Raja:
- Maiden ray (Raja clava)
- Finspot ray (Raja cervigoni)
- Maiden ray(Raja cortezensis)
- Big skate(Raja binoculata)
Bibliography
“Clearnose Skate.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/clearnose-skate. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.
“Clearnose Skate.” A-Z Animals, 2024, a-z-animals.com/animals/clearnose-skate. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.
“Raja eglanteria Clear-Nosed Brier Skate.” Animal Diversity Web, 2013, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Raja‗eglanteria. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.