Winter skate
| Winter skate | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Rajidae |
| Genus: | Leucoraja |
| Species: | L. ocellata
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| Binomial name | |
| Leucoraja ocellata Mitchill, 1815
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The winter skate (Leucoraja ocellata) is a globally endangered species of skate found in the surrounding waters of northeastern North America. They inhabit shallow shelf waters and are prone to bycatch during commercial fishing.[2]
Description
[edit]The winter skate can reach a maximum size of 109 cm. It reaches maturity around 12 years of age, depending on the sex and area.[3]
The skate's fins are used for swimming, while its tail remains stiff during most movements.[4]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]This skate can be found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean,[3] ranging from North of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to South of Newfoundland and Labrador.[2] Winter skates prefer sand and gravel habitats.[3] They are primarily found in depths below 111 m and up to 371 m[2] and in temperatures ranging between -1.2 and -15 C.[3]
_Egg_Case_-_Gooseberry_Cove_Provincial_Park,_Newfoundland_2019-08-10.jpg)
The local populations of the winter skate are not all evenly distributed. They are facing extirpation in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, for example,[5] resulting in a lot fewer egg cases found on local beaches. Their range has declined 99% from the 1980s to 2015 in that sector.[6]
Threats to the skate population include grey seals[7] and fishing bycatch.[3]
References
[edit]
- ^ Kulka, D.W.; Anderson, B.; Cotton, C.F.; Derrick, D.; Pacoureau, N.; Dulvy, N.K. (2020). "Leucoraja ocellata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161631A124518400. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T161631A124518400.en. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ a b c COSEWIC (2015). "COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Winter Skate (Leucoraja ocellata)" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ a b c d e Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2016-12-19). "Winter Skate (Leucoraja ocellata)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
- ^ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2016-12-19). "External anatomy". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ^ Kelly, J. T.; Hanson, J. M. (March 2013). "Maturity, size at age and predator-prey relationships of winter skate Leucoraja ocellata in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence: potentially an undescribed endemic facing extirpation: BIOLOGY OF SGSL LEUCORAJA OCELLATA". Journal of Fish Biology. 82 (3): 959–978. doi:10.1111/jfb.12030. PMID 23464554.
- ^ Government of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada. "Information archivée dans le Web" (PDF). publications.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ Swain, Douglas P.; Benoît, Hugues P.; Hammill, Mike O.; Sulikowski, James A. (2019). "Risk of extinction of a unique skate population due to predation by a recovering marine mammal". Ecological Applications. 29 (6): e01921. Bibcode:2019EcoAp..29E1921S. doi:10.1002/eap.1921. ISSN 1051-0761. PMID 31059188.
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