Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Rajidae (Skates)
Etymology: Rajella: Latin, raja, -ae = a sting ray (Raja sp.) (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 600 - 2300 m (Ref. 117245), usually 1300 - 1400 m (Ref. 11284). Boreal; 3°C - 4°C (Ref. 117245); 73°N - 37°N, 75°W - 5°W (Ref. 119696)
North Atlantic and adjacent Arctic: ne USA to Rockall Trough (British Isles) (Ref. 114953).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 70.0, range 65 - 75 cm
Max length : 90.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4426)
Lower surface of the discus dark brown, darker in upper surface. Without definite markings, outer edges of pectoral and pelvic fins shading to darker (Ref. 6902).
Body shape (shape guide): other.
Found on deeper continental slopes and probably abyssal plains, mainly deeper than 1,400 m (Ref. 3167). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). It is caught as by-catch in low numbers by deep trawl fisheries (Ref. 117245).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous (Ref. 3167). Paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).
McEachran, J.D. and K.A. Dunn, 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia 1998(2):271-290. (Ref. 27314)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 3.4 - 6.6, mean 5.4 °C (based on 13 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00302 (0.00141 - 0.00645), b=3.24 (3.07 - 3.41), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.45 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High vulnerability (56 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 4.19 [0.62, 81.71] mg/100g; Iron = 0.299 [0.028, 4.019] mg/100g; Protein = 15.1 [13.0, 17.2] %; Omega3 = 0.46 [0.19, 1.15] g/100g; Selenium = 20.5 [3.5, 95.1] μg/100g; VitaminA = 3.87 [0.29, 52.88] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.28 [0.02, 3.23] mg/100g (wet weight);
