Common skate  (Dipturus batis)

Biology

The common skate is often seen travelling in same sex/age groups (3), near to the sea floor (5). Mating occurs mainly in the spring and during copulation there is a distinct embrace between males and females (5). The female then lays long oblong egg capsules, which are anchored into the muddy or sandy substrate by their stiff pointed horns (5). An individual will lay around 40 eggs a year (5). Males only reach sexual maturity once they have reached a length of 125 cm, which corresponds to around 10 years of age (2). The common skate is thought to live for as long as 50 years (2), and it takes around 14 years for the population to double in size (5).

Common skates feed on a variety of bottom dwelling organisms but preferentially consume fish (5). Unlike most other skates, these fish are active by both day and night (4).

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