Rosette skate
Species of cartilaginous fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The rosette skate (Leucoraja garmani) is an abundant mid-depth skate.
| Rosette skate | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Rajidae |
| Genus: | Leucoraja |
| Species: | L. garmani |
| Binomial name | |
| Leucoraja garmani (Whitley, 1939) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Raja ackleyi ornata Garman, 1881 (preoccupied) | |
Etymology
The skate is named in honor of American ichthyologist-herpetologist Samuel Garman (1843‒1927), of Harvard University.[2]
Description
The rosette skate is a relatively small species of skate, growing up to about 44 cm long. It has a disc-heart or spade shape with a rounded snout. The dorsal fins are separate and have one or two intervening thorns. Along the skate's tail are 33 to 35 thorns.[3] The dorsal side of the rosette skate is brown and freckled, with dark and light spots that form dark rosettes surrounding a dark central spot. This pattern is where the skate gets its common name from. The ventral side of the rosette skate is light-colored, either white or yellowish.[3][4]
Distribution and habitat
The rosette skate is typically found at depths between 33 and 530 meters (110 and 1,740 ft)[1][5] and at temperatures 9 to 13°C, though it can live at 5.3 to 17°C.[3] At the extremes on the United States' Atlantic Coast, specimens have been found as far north as the Nantucket Shoals and as far south as the Dry Tortugas.[1] Beyond, it has been located throughout the Caribbean, the eastern shores of Mexico and Central American, and the northern shores of South America.[5][6]
Relationship to humans
Based on reported bycatch rates and population observances, there is no evidence to support concern of the rosette skate.[1]
