How to Identify Common Skate

To identify Common Skate (Dipturus batis), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

flat

Coloration

Dorsal surface typically greyish-brown to olive-green, often with lighter spots or blotches. Ventral surface is white or pale, sometimes with darker margins or blotches. The Blue Skate (D. flossada) tends to be more uniformly grey-blue, while the Flapper Skate (D. intermedius) often has more distinct spotting.

Scale type

placoid

Mouth position

inferior

Distinctive features

Large size, up to 2.85 meters (9.3 ft) in length and 113 kg (249 lbs) in weight., Rhomboidal disc, wider than long., Long, pointed snout., Numerous thorns on the dorsal surface, particularly along the midline and around the eyes. Males have alar thorns (clasper thorns) on the pectoral fins., Two small dorsal fins located far back on the tail, close to the caudal fin.

Dorsal fin

Two small, similarly sized dorsal fins located on the posterior part of the tail, close to the caudal fin.

Tail fin

Reduced caudal fin, often appearing as a fold of skin.

Pectoral fin

Large, wing-like pectoral fins forming the main body disc.

Distinctive fins

Pelvic fins are distinct from the pectoral fins, located at the base of the tail.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Size

   The largest skate species in European waters, reaching lengths of nearly 3 meters.

2. 2

   Snout

   Possesses a distinctly long and pointed snout.

3. 3

   Thorns

   Dorsal surface is covered in numerous thorns, particularly prominent along the midline and around the eyes. Males have rows of alar thorns on the pectoral fins.

4. 4

   Coloration

   Generally greyish-brown to olive-green dorsally, white ventrally. The presence and pattern of spots can help distinguish between the two cryptic species (D. intermedius often more spotted, D. flossada more uniformly grey-blue).

5. 5

   Tail

   Relatively long tail with two small dorsal fins positioned very close to the tip.

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