Big skate  (Raja binoculata)

Aptly named, the big skate is the largest skate in North American waters (4). As with all skates, the body is flattened and disc-shaped, with the pectoral fins broadly expanded and joined to the head and body (5). In this species, the tip of the snout and tips of the pectoral fins are acutely pointed, forming a diamond-shaped disc (4) (5). The tail is distinctly demarcated from the disc, relatively narrow, and about as long as body length (5). An irregular row of approximately 33 thorns run from the end of the back, down the tail to the first of two dorsal fins. The small eyes are positioned on the upper surface relatively far back, while the mouth appears on the underside, along with the five gill slits (4). Mottled colouration on the back includes browns, reddish-browns, dark greys and blacks, with occasional small pale spots and scattered dark blotches (4), while the underside is white (6). The species' name ‘binoculata' means two eyes, referring to the prominent dark ocellus (eye-like spot) on the upper surface of each pectoral fin (4). Biologists believe this illusion of eyes may confuse potential predators by making the skate appear much larger than it is (4) (7).