Sharks Chimaeras Skates and Rays: Chondrichthyes

Physical characteristics: Clearnose skates reach a total length of 31 inches (79 centimeters). The head, pectoral fins, and trunk are flattened and join to form a broad disk. The tail makes up about one-half of the total length of the skate. The sides of the snout are not clear but are cloudy, like frosted glass. A row of thorns runs down the back. Clearnose skates are brown to gray on the back and whitish to yellowish on the belly. There are dark and light spots and dark bars on the back.

Geographic range: Clearnose skates live in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Clearnose skates live in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to the northern Gulf of Mexico. (Illustration by Gillian Harris. Reproduced by permission.)

Habitat: Clearnose skates live on soft bottoms near the shore.

Diet: Clearnose skates eat worms, shrimps, crabs, and bony fishes.

Behavior and reproduction: In the northern part of their range, clearnose skates migrate (MY-grayt) north and near shore in the spring and south and offshore in the fall. After internal fertilization, the female lays eggs, and the young hatch from egg capsules after several months. At birth clearnose skates are about 5 inches (12.5 to 14.4 centimeters) long.

Conservation status: Clearnose skates are not threatened nor endangered.

Clearnose skates and people: Clearnose skates have been used in cancer research. ∎