Longnosed skate

How it lives

It lays eggs in rectangular capsules with short horns at the corners, and it breeds in spring and early summer. Hatchlings measure about 17 cm. FishBase lists depths of 70 to 1,461 m, usually around 200 m, and says it reaches maturity at about 120 cm. In a Mediterranean study, the oldest females were 12 years old and the oldest males 9, and other research suggests up to 25 years.

Where it goes

It lives on sand and mud on the sea floor and is not known for long migrations. FishBase gives its range as the eastern Atlantic from central Norway to Senegal, including the Mediterranean, the Canary and Madeira islands. Movement patterns are not described in the sources read.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

Global: Vulnerable (IUCN, assessed 2023, as listed by FishBase). Older sources, such as CIESM and a 2022 Mediterranean study, still give Near Threatened. It is caught as bycatch in trawls, has little commercial value, and FishBase rates its vulnerability to fishing as very high, with a score of 77 out of 100. The sources read give no total population number.