Dipturus batis Superregnum: Eukaryota Name Dipturus batis (Linnaeus), 1758 References * Integrated Taxonomic Information System
The common skate or blue skate (Dipturus batis[1]) is the largest skate in the world.[2] Historically, it was one of the most abundant skates in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Despite its name, today it appears to be absent from much of this range.[3] Where previously abundant, fisheries directly targeted this skate, elsewhere it is caught incidentally as by-catch. Previously assessed as Endangered globally and Critically Endangered in shelf and enclosed seas in the 2000 IUCN Red List, it has been uplisted to Critically Endangered globally in 2006 [4]. In 2009, research showed that what was formerly listed as a single species, D. batis, should be instead classified as two separate species, D. flossada and the flapper skate, D. intermedia.[5][6] Description The common skate can grow to 285 cm[7] long and weigh 220 lb (100 kg)[8], making it the largest skate in the world. Overall shape features a pointed snout and rhombic shape, with a row of spines or thorns along the tail.[9] The top surface is generally colored olive-grey to brown, often with a pattern of spots, the underside is lighter blue-grey.[7] Notes ^ Sometimes listed as Raja batis which was the name given by Linnaeus, however this name is no longer considered valid.
Source: Wikipedia, Wikispecies: All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License |
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